Rain continued to fall in Southern California on Tuesday from an atmospheric river event that already dumped more than 11 inches of rain in some areas, including some neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
The powerful storm has already caused hundreds of mudslides, destroyed at least five buildings and toppled more than 250 trees.
Debris from a slumping hillside above critical railroad tracks used by freight and passenger trains in San Clemente is expected to reach the tracks by Tuesday night, further complicating ongoing cleanup and stabilization efforts.
The train corridor has been closed to passenger rail service since Jan. 24. Freight trains will not traverse the area Tuesday due to risk of debris slides.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass provided an update on the storm battering Southern California Tuesday night, along with L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and city leaders after a state of local emergency was declared this week.
Since the beginning of the storm, city services and resources have responded to:
- 475 mudslides
- 390 fallen trees
- Multiple successful water rescues
- At least a dozen structure fires
- 441 reports of potholes that street services are working to address
- Power restored to over 59,000 residents
A pregnant woman had to be rescued Tuesday after getting trapped inside a rain-swollen storm drain in Anaheim (story).
Officials with the City of Los Angeles announced that evacuation orders for La Tuna Canyon have been lifted within the area of Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south and Ledge Avenue to the west.
More information can be found here.
First responders in Hacienda Heights and La Habra Heights are working to clear roads and help residents impacted by a massive hillside collapse that led to a damaging mud and debris flow. More info and video here.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has updated its rain timing & intensity chart for the remainder of the storm and beyond.
Key Points:
· Periods of heavy rain through early Wed morning over LA County
· 20 percent chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening all areas; remote (non-zero) risk of brief tornadoes in LA Co.
· Snow level lowering to mountain pass level tonight with 1-2 inches snow overnight at 4000′, 20% chance of 2-4 inches
· Coastal Flooding Risk due to High Surf and Large Tides Wednesday through Friday, peaking Thursday
A cliffside in Santa Barbara County collapsed due to damage sustained during the storm, displacing more than 40 of residents of a seaside apartment complex.
Damage to the building, located in a beachside community adjacent to University of California, Santa Barbara, was reported just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to local authorities.
It is not known when residents will be able to return to their homes.
The National Weather Service has extended the Flood Watch for Los Angeles County until 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. The Flood Watch for Ventura County, southern Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest will remain in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Some areas of L.A. County could see up to three more inches of rain before Wednesday is over, NWS projections indicate.
Heavy rain is moving through the Los Angeles area again. Tap for live interactive radar.
Video captured by Sky5 in the Hacienda Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles shows a large mudslide that caused damage to several homes.
In the adjacent La Habra Heights neighborhood, an already eroding hillside continued to send mud and debris onto Hacienda Road below.
Road crews were seen at both locations beginning the cleanup process and going door-to-door to see if any residents required assistance.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced early Tuesday afternoon that Hacienda Road is closed from the Hsi Lai Temple to City Hall due to the debris flow.
The following roads in Los Angeles and Ventura county remain closed as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Caltrans said on social media.
- SB 5 Fwy to SB 110 Fwy connector – The ramp, located near Dodger Stadium, is closed due to multiple landslides for an unknown duration. The right lane of the southbound 5 Freeway is also closed at Stadium Way, Caltrans confirmed.
- Topanga Canyon Blvd. (SR-27) – Closed from Oakwood Drive to Old Topanga Canyon Road due to flooding and mudslides from overflow of Topanga Creek for an unknown duration.
- NB 101 Fwy off-ramp to Sanjon Road (Ventura) – Closed due to a downed tree in the roadway for an unknown duration. Maintenance landscape and road crews are on scene, Caltrans said.
- SR-33 (west of Ojai) – Closed in both directions between Wheeler Gorge south to Ojai and Rose Valley Road north to Lockwood Valley Road due to a mudslide. According to Caltrans, the affected area was already damaged by a storm last winter and was being worked on by road crews.
Caltrans also announced that a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County that eroded due to the storm was reopened in both directions. A portion of the southbound lane is shifted away from the shoulder for motorist safety, and the stretch of eroded roadway will close again Tuesday night out of an abundance of caution, officials confirmed.
Visit the Caltrans QuickMap for live road conditions.
A flash flood warning remains in place for Norwalk, Whittier and South Whittier until 12:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
KTLA’s Shelby Nelson reports from Big Bear, which is expected to receive 1-3 feet of snow from the storm.
The City of Torrance has opened an emergency operations center to deal with storm issues, including a broken water main resulting in a hillside failure from the 4300 block of Vista Montana onto Vista Largo. Approximately 30 homes are impacted.
“We urge the community and residents to exercise caution during this time of heightened alert,” said Torrance Mayor George Chen. “Please avoid flooded areas and non-essential travel. Stay informed by monitoring the latest conditions and emergency warnings on our official channels.”
More than 7,000 customers remain without power as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to an update from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
“Currently, the most impacted areas include Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, Pacific Palisades and Brentwood,” the LADWP stated.
The utility said it has restored power to more than 53,000 customers since the start of the storm.
A downed power pole is seen after a tree toppled in Brentwood Tuesday morning. (KTLA)