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Another storm bearing down on Southern California is expected to bring periods of heavy rain Wednesday and Thursday, prompting officials in Riverside County to issue evacuation orders and warnings for residents in areas charred by the Holy and Cranston fires.
The Pacific storm move into the region Wednesday morning, but the heaviest rain isn’t expected until later in the afternoon, the National Weather Service stated.
A flash flood watch is in place for parts of Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties from late Wednesday through Thursday evening. In Los Angeles County, a flash flood watch will go into effect on Thursday.
Forecasters are expected 1 to 2 inches of rain along the coast and valley locations. Two to 4 inches are expected in the foothills, with around 5 inches of rain possible in the mountains.
This week’s storm is also expected to be quite a bit warmer than our last weather system, which means snow levels are expected to rise to about 7,000 feet.
Update on the Flash Flood Watch issued by NWS Los Angeles – it has been expanded across the L.A. County Mtns, outside of recent burn areas, due to expected heavy rain. Snowmelt will add to flooding of small streams due to high snow levels. #CAwx #SoCal #CAstorm pic.twitter.com/zPX0PGFhg8
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 14, 2019
Evacuation orders in some Holy Fire burn areas
Officials say some residents in the Riverside County Holy Fire burn areas should evacuate immediately, while others should be ready to leave at any time. Forecasters believe this could be the strongest storm to hit the area this season. The bridge on Trabuco Canyon Road near Trabuco Creek was closed at 10 p.m. Wednesday in anticipation of the rains. The bridge was also closed last week after a storm trigged mudflow in the area. Evacuation orders have been issued for the following zones: • Amorose • Alberhill • Glen Ivy-A • Glen Ivy-B • Glen Eden • Grace • Horsethief-A • Horsethief-B • Laguna-A • Maitri • McVicker-A • Rice • Withrow-A People in these areas “must go now,” according to the county’s website. Evacuation warnings were also in place in: • Alvarado-A • Laguna-B • Lakeside-A • Apple Canyon • Strawberry Creek • Fleming Ranch • Hurkey Creek People in these zones and communities “should go now,” county officials said. “This is the safest time to leave.” Care and reception centers were opened at Temescal Canyon High School, located at 28532 El Toro Road in Lake Elsinore, and Idyllwild School at 26700 Highway 243 in Idyllwild.EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED FOR HOLY BURN AREA @RivCoReady @CtyLakeElsinore #HolyFloodWatch pic.twitter.com/WErW00u1P1
— CAL FIRE Riverside (@CALFIRERRU) February 14, 2019