As heavy rainfall continues across Southern California, authorities have issued evacuation orders and warnings for burn scar areas, where the risk of debris flows and flash flooding is dangerously high.
Major Mudslide on Mulholland Drive
At 5 p.m. Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported a large debris flow covering Mulholland Drive with 8 inches of mud, forcing a full road closure for the remainder of the storm.
- No injuries were reported.
- Homes above the debris flow remain stable.
Severe Weather Threats in Los Angeles County
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple weather alerts, including:
- Severe Thunderstorm Warnings: Strong storms with 70 mph wind gusts and the possibility of weak tornadoes are moving from the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley.
- Flash Flood Warnings: Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and burn scar areas are at high risk of mudslides and debris flows.
Affected Areas
- Pacific Palisades Fire burn scar
- Eaton Fire burn scar (San Gabriel Valley)
- Boyle Heights, Highland Park, Tarzana, Reseda
Evacuation Orders & Warnings by Region
Los Angeles County
Mandatory Evacuations
- Sierra Madre (Eaton Fire zone) – expanded to Altadena
- Pasadena (Hastings Ranch neighborhood – 10 homes affected)
Evacuation Warnings (In effect until 2 p.m. Friday)
- Palisades, Mandeville Canyon, Sunset, Eaton, Hurst burn scars
- East Pasadena (25 homes under warning)
Orange County
Mandatory Evacuations
- Trabuco, Bell, and Hot Springs Canyons (Airport Fire burn scar)
Evacuation Warnings
- Long and Modjeska Canyons
Ventura County
Evacuation Warnings
- Mountain Fire Burn Area (Warning in effect until 8 a.m. Friday)
Officials warn of peak rainfall rates near 0.75 inches per hour, which could trigger dangerous mudslides.
San Bernardino County
Mandatory Evacuations
- Highland (Line Fire burn scar area) (Upgraded from warnings to mandatory evacuations Thursday night).
Emergency Response & Safety Measures
Damaging Winds & Power Outages
Mayor Karen Bass stated that Department of Water and Power crews are ready to respond to outages.
Mudflow Prevention Efforts
- Concrete barriers and sandbags installed to stop mudflows.
- Swift Water Rescue and Urban Search & Rescue teams pre-positioned.
LAPD Assisting Evacuations
- Officers have gone door-to-door in mandatory evacuation zones.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts sent to high-risk areas.
Federal Agencies Responding to the Storm
- FEMA is monitoring flood impacts and coordinating debris removal.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA have paused hazardous waste cleanup until conditions improve.
Road Closures & Safety Tips
- Several roads near burn scars are closed due to mudslides and flooding.
- Do not attempt to drive through flooded streets.
- Sandbag and emergency resource locations are available for affected residents.
With Southern California facing severe storms, residents in evacuation zones should leave immediately. Flash flooding, mudslides, and power outages will continue to threaten the region through Friday. Stay alert for emergency updates and road closures.
