los angeles — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Some homes were ordered to evacuate in Los Angeles neighborhoods ravaged by wildfires as Southern California was hit by a rare storm in October that was expected to hit the region with torrential rain, high winds and the potential for heavy rainfall. Mudslides.
“We are very concerned about the weather,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference on Monday evening, explaining that attack teams, rescue teams and helicopters are ready to respond.
The evacuations included about 115 homes, most of them in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, which were struck by a massive fire in January that killed more than 30 people in total. More than 17,000 homes and buildings were destroyed In Los Angeles County. Wildfires can leave hillsides without vegetation to hold the soil in place, making it easier for the terrain to break away during storms.
Bass and other officials warned residents across the region to remain alert and stay home. The worst was expected to start early Tuesday and continue into the afternoon, and more than 16,000 people were without power as of Monday night, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storm could dump up to 4 inches (10.2 cm) of rain in some areas, according to the Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service, which described it as a “rare and extremely powerful storm system.”
The storm could spawn two tornadoes, and one of the main challenges is its unpredictability, said Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
He said: “The nature of this system is such that we cannot be sure exactly when and where these impacts will strike, and the exact details even before they occur at the earliest possible time.”
Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department began patrolling the area Monday evening, and a portion of State Route 27, which begins at the Pacific Coast Highway, was closed in preparation for the storm, the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, said on social media.
The Meteorological Authority also warned of strong winds that could cause trees and power lines to fall.
In the north, up to 3 feet (1 meter) of mountain snow is expected in parts of the Sierra Nevada.
Heavy rain had already begun falling Monday evening across much of Northern California, causing some urban flooding around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Gladstone’s Restaurant, located along the Pacific Coast Highway, said it would close Tuesday in anticipation of heavy rain. The Pacific Palisades Foundation is located at an intersection that has seen heavy debris flows during past rain events.
In February, heavy rains caused debris flows and mudslides in many neighborhoods ignited by the January fires. In the community of Sierra Madre, near the site of the Eaton Fire, there is water, debris and rocks He rushed down the mountainThis led to cars being trapped in the mud and damaging many home garages. A portion of the Pacific Coast Highway next to Pacific Palisades was submerged in at least 3 feet of sludge, and a rapid debris flow engulfed a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle In the ocean.
Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been particularly high since 2018, when the town of Montecito, up the coast from Los Angeles, was severely damaged. Devastated by mudslides After heavy rain, the mountain slopes were burned by a huge fire. Hundreds of homes were damaged and 23 people died.
Elsewhere in the United States, Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds, damaging waves and torrential waters that led to flooding. Some houses were swept away In Alaska over the weekend. One person was killed and two were missing in western Alaska on Monday, while more than 50 people were rescued — some pulled from rooftops.
Officials warned that there is a long road to recovery and the need for continued support for the most affected communities as winter approaches.
A thunderstorm and thunderstorm in Tempe, Arizona, on Monday dumped a half-inch of rain within 10 minutes, the National Weather Service said. The storm caused severe damage, including uprooting trees that fell on vehicles and buildings, and dropping them on streets and sidewalks. The roof of a commercial complex collapsed, and electricity was cut off to thousands of homes.
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Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Becky Bohrer contributed from Juneau, Alaska.