Topline
Californians are finally seeing relief after what officials are calling an “historic” three-day atmospheric river storm, but officials are warning that mudslides and floods may still threaten the Los Angeles area as another smaller storm system approaches the region just one day later.
A “heavy burst” of rain on Wednesday night could create more mudslides and flooding in Los Angeles.
Key Facts
As of Tuesday night, Los Angeles has seen a total of 475 mudslides, 390 fallen trees, 12 structure fires, and multiple water rescues, LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a press conference with city officials.
Tyler Kranz, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in Los Angeles, warned the city will see another “heavy burst” of rainfall on Wednesday night between 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., which could lead to more mudslides and flooding in southern California.
A flood watch was extended for Los Angeles County until 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the NWS said, with most of the county expecting to see at least one more inch of rain from the storm.
Officials warned that even moderate rain could trigger additional mudslides: “The ground is fully saturated and simply cannot hold anymore water, so it won’t take much to see those impacts continue,” Kranz said.
The Hollywood Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains saw the worst rainfall, recording over 12 inches of rainwater since the storm began on Sunday, Kranz said, while other downtown Los Angeles recorded 8.6 inches, according to the NWS.
Key Background
Atmospheric rivers, including “Pineapple Express” storms like the one that swept through California on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday have caused significant damage and killed dozens of residents in the past. In January 2023, a similar series of storms killed at least 20 people in the Golden State. The state has not released an official death toll for this year’s storm yet, but Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that so far no Angelenos have been reported killed from effects of the storm. But Bass warned Tuesday night: “Though the rain is easing up we cannot drop our guard…even when the rain stops, the ground may continue to shift.” Elsewhere in the state, as many as nine people have been killed, the Los Angeles Times reported. At least three people were killed on Sunday evening in northern California by falling trees, while a fourth was killed by a fallen tree in Sacramento County. On Monday, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed one person died after their car crashed before being swept away by floodwater. Another three people across the state were killed in car wrecks caused by the weather, state officials told the Los Angeles Times. On Tuesday, a man was found dead trying to cross the Tijuana River along the border of California and Mexico. The man’s identity and immigration status have not been confirmed, NBC San Diego reported.
Further Reading
MORE FROM FORBESLos Angeles Pounded By Rain As Atmospheric River Hits California (In Photos)By Molly BohannonMORE FROM FORBESNearly 700,000 Without Power In California As Atmospheric River Brings Heavy Rains, Flooding And Strong WindsBy Siladitya Ray
