Torrential rains and high winds are forecast for much of Southern California through Saturday and already have caused mud to block some roadways and put 23 million under a flood watch. File Photo by Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE
Nov. 14 (UPI) — Rainstorms that are forecast to bring up to 8 inches of rain to Southern California through Saturday have triggered flood watches in fire-ravaged locales in Los Angeles, San Diego and nearby areas.
Two bouts of rainstorms are predicted to bring between 1 inch and 3 inches of rain on Friday to areas that are still affected by wildfires in January, NBC News reported.
More than 23 million people live in the risk zones as rain began falling on Friday afternoon and already created muddy conditions in areas due to the lack of ground cover because of the January wildfires that decimated many areas in and around Los Angeles and San Diego County.
Officials at Los Angeles International Airport reported about an inch of rainfall in an hour on Friday, and Highway 101 had up to 6 inches of mud accumulation that caused at least one vehicle to get stuck.
A second storm system that includes high winds and between 2 inches and 8 inches of rainfall is expected to impact the area through Saturday as the storms intensify.
Ventura County officials issued an evacuation warning for Thursday to Sunday in the area affected by the Mountain Fire in January.
Also under evacuation warnings are those in Camino Cielo, Matilija Canyon and North Fork.
The heaviest rainfall is expected late Friday night and into Saturday, which has triggered a flood watch from 4 a.m. PST to 10 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Mud flows and debris fields could impact burn areas from January’s wildfires in and near Eaton, Hurst, Kenneth, Palisades and Sunset.
The rainfall could cause extensive damage and possibly become life-threatening, but it also is expected to end Southern California’s annual fire season.