A strong Pacific storm that moved into Southern California Monday night is dropping heavy rain on the region Tuesday, bringing a chance of debris flows, slick traffic conditions and even the possibility of a tornado.
“Remember, not all storms are the same,” KTLA Meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said. “Some have different elements embedded with them that could at least deliver a little rotation, which would then result in either a downburst or perhaps a tornado. Not saying that’s going to happen, but … the dynamics are there that that could be one of the outliers.”
According to the National Weather Service, three-quarters of an inch and one and a half inches of rain is expected in our coastal and valley locations. Foothill and mountain areas may see between 2 and 4 inches of rain. The storm will also bring strong winds to the region, with gusts ranging between 30 and 55 mph.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the NWS for parts of Los Angeles during the morning hours. Santa Monica, Burbank, Hollywood, Venice, Altadena, Studio City and downtown Los Angeles were included among the locations.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are unusual for the Los Angeles Basin, with the NWS saying that this is the first since Jan. 27, 2008.
Snow levels are expected to drop to around 6,000 feet on Tuesday.
Evacuations
Evacuation orders were issued Monday and Tuesday for parts of Los Angeles County as rainfall increased the risk of debris flows near recent wildfire burn scars.
Mandatory evacuations were in place for 114 locations in the Palisades and Mandeville Canyon areas, where LAPD officers were going door to door, urging residents to leave.
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The city of Los Angeles issued an evacuation warning for multiple areas in the shadow of the Palisades Fire burn area, including in Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said evacuation warnings would likely remain in effect from 10 p.m. Monday night into early Wednesday morning.
An interactive map with evacuation warning notices can be found at AlertLA.org.
In Orange County, officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Airport Fire burn scar and posted warnings for some other areas.
The O.C. Sheriff’s Department put the evacuation order into effect at 10 a.m. Tuesday for “areas in Trabuco Creek including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school, Bell Canyon including Starr Ranch and Hot Springs Canyon including Lazy-W Ranch, due to possible debris flows along or near the Airport Fire burn scar.”
Voluntary evacuation warning remains in place for Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon. Click here for a map with depictions of the evacuation areas.
