LOS ANGELES — A relentless atmospheric river continued dumping rain across Southern California Monday, adding to record-setting rain totals that had already reached double-digits in some areas and caused mud and debris flows that forced evacuations and left some homes heavily damaged.
By Monday morning, the storm had already dropped more than 10 inches of rain in Woodland Hills, according to the National Weather Service. Bel Air received nearly 10.6 inches, while Beverly Hills received more than 7 inches. Some areas in the Santa Monica Mountains received nearly 11 inches.
And more rain was still falling. NWS forecasters said as much as 3 more inches could fall in most Los Angeles County areas, with higher amounts possible in the mountains. The storm could also still generate thunderstorms through Tuesday night, forecasters said, resulting in even higher rainfall rates and raising the risk of flooding.
With rain expected to continue falling throughout the day and into Tuesday, a flash flood warning was issued until 9 p.m. for the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills, with forecasters saying between 6 and 11 inches of rain had already fallen in those areas and "moderate to heavy rain" expected to continue into the early evening.
A flood advisory was issued for the rest of L.A. County through 9 p.m. as rain continued falling.
"Widespread roadway and small stream flooding will continue across much of Los Angeles County through this evening," NWS forecasters said. "In addition, there will be the threat of debris flows, as well as additional rock and mudslide activity, especially in the mountains and canyon roadways."
Mud and debris flows impacted multiple areas during heavy downpours that occurred overnight and early Monday morning.
In the Hollywood Hills, a mudslide severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. City Building and Safety crews were assessing the extent of damage to the homes.
Two homes sustained significant damage in Studio City when mud and debris slid down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting some evacuations.
Rocks and boulders fell on parts of Malibu Canyon Road overnight, prompting a closure along that street that was later lifted. But stretches of Piuma Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard were also closed due to flooding and debris in the Malibu/Topanga areas, with sheriff's officials reporting several vehicles completely submerged on Piuma.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported earlier closures on Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen Canyon roads because of flooding and rock slides.
Roads leading to and through the Sepulveda Basin were closed due to flooding, including Burbank Boulevard between the San Diego (405) Freeway and Balboa Boulevard and Woodley Avenue between Burbank and Victory boulevards.
Los Angeles officials urged residents to stay home and off the roads Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties in the state, including Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Los Angeles County later declared its own state of emergency, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday also signed a local emergency declaration.
The emergency proclamations will help expedite procurement of vital supplies and resources, deployment of disaster service workers and the use of emergency protective measures such as evacuation orders, officials said.
Los Angeles Unified School District campuses remained open Monday, with the exception of Vinedale Elementary School in Sun Valley and Topanga Elementary Charter School. Classes for Vinedale Elementary were relocated to Glenwood Elementary. Classes for Topanga Elementary were relocated to Woodland Hills Academy. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said district officials would continue to monitor the storm, and plans could change throughout Monday.
At a midday news conference, Carvalho said student attendance was 63% on Monday, but he said 90% of district teachers, bus drivers and classified employees reported for work.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools were closed Monday, with multiple reports of mud and rock flows affecting canyon roads in the area.
Some California State University campuses were either closed or switched to modified operations Monday. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton all adjusted operations, with many in-person classes shifting online or switching to alternative programming. Students were advised to check with their instructors for specific information.
Long Beach City College closed both its Liberal Arts Campus at 4901 E. Carson St. and its Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway on Monday. Students were advised to check to see if their classes will be online, and employees will work remotely.
Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area north of Hollywood Burbank Airport were ordered to evacuate until Tuesday due to the high risk of debris flow triggered by the heavy rain.
The affected area borders Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south, and Ledge Avenue to the west, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Eastbound La Tuna Canyon Road was closed to all but residents in the evacuation area at Ledge Avenue, at Sunland Boulevard, at Honolulu Avenue and the westbound lanes are closed at the Foothill (210) Freeway with only freeway access allowed.
Evacuation centers for people and household pets have opened at Sunland Senior Citizen Center at 8640 Fenwick St. and Lake View Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Blvd. Large animals can be evacuated to Hansen Dam Horse Park at 11127 Orcas Ave. in Lake View Terrace, and the LA Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank.
Los Angeles County issued evacuation orders for the Owen Fire burn area, on Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon, and the Agua Fire area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road.
Those orders will be in effect through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Additionally, evacuation warnings were issued for areas of unincorporated Los Angeles County near burn scars through 6 p.m. Tuesday, including the Juniper Hills and Valyermo areas from the Bobcat Fire, and the following areas of Lake Hughes and King Canyon from the Lake Fire:
-- 20000 block of Pine Canyon Road;
-- 18000 block of Ellstree Drive;
-- 46000 block of Kings Canyon Road;
-- 18000 block of Newvale Drive; and
-- 43000 block of Lake Hughes Road.
The city of Duarte also issued an evacuation warning for an area near the Fish Fire burn scar. That warning will be in effect through 10 a.m. Tuesday for the area on Mel Canyon Road between Fish Canyon Road and Brookridge Road.
In Orange County, a voluntary evacuation warning was issued at 7 p.m. Sunday for Silverado, Williams, Modjeska and Trabuco canyons due to heavy rains. A map with detailed depictions of the areas under evacuation warnings can be found at www.ocsheriff.gov/emergency.
Canyon residents were encouraged to prepare and voluntarily evacuate, especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals.
Any person with disabilities and those with access and/or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance were asked to call Orange County Sheriff's Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.
Orange County Animal Care encouraged animal owners in voluntary evacuation areas to implement their personal evacuation plans. Pet evacuation tips are available at https://ocpetinfo.com/education-resources/disaster- preparedness. Any person needing assistance with information about animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 714-259-1122 after-hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.
With more rain on the way, the storm had already shattered some local rain records by Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service, 4.10 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, breaking the daily rainfall total for Feb. 4 of 2.55 inches set in 1927. It was the third wettest February day and the 12th wettest day for anytime during the year since 1877, when rainfall totals first started being recorded. The wettest day on record for downtown Los Angeles was 5.88 inches set on March 21, 1938.
A total of 1.76 inches of rain were reported at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday, breaking the record for the day of 0.56 inches set in 1958. There were 1.50 inches of rain reported at Long Beach Airport, breaking the record for the day of 0.69 inches set in 1975.
Thousands of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison customers lost power during the storms, and utility officials said crews were working frantically to restore service.
NWS forecasters warned residents to expect more rain into at least Tuesday.
"Periods of rain, mountain snow, and possible thunderstorms will continue through at least Tuesday night and possibly through Thursday morning," according to the NWS. "Light to moderate rain will be common, with locally heavy but brief downpours. Snow levels will lower each day with mountain snow issues increasing. Gusty west to northwest winds will form Wednesday into Thursday."
Forecasters said the showers should taper off Thursday and Friday, "with dry but still cool conditions to follow."
A winter storm watch will be in effect in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains through 10 p.m. Tuesday, with forecasters predicting as much as 2 to 3 feet of snow above 7,000 feet, as much as 20 inches as low as 6,000 feet, and 8 inches at 5,000 feet.
A less severe winter storm advisory will be in place until 10 p.m. Tuesday in the western San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor.
A high surf advisory was issued from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Monday at Orange County beaches, and until 9 p.m. Monday at Los Angeles County beaches.
The city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority increased shelter and housing voucher availability to accommodate an influx of homeless people coming in from the storm. Shelters were opened at the Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center at 2323 Workman St., Mid Valley Senior Citizen Shelter at 8825 Kester Ave. in Panorama City, South LA Sports Activity Center at 7020 S. Figueroa St. and Oakwood Recreation Center at 767 California Ave. Residents can call 2-1-1 for transportation to a shelter.
The storm was also affecting the recreational activities. Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm were closed Monday. The Getty Center and Villa announced they would be closed Monday. The Los Angeles Zoo is also closed Monday. Disneyland plans to close an hour earlier than scheduled, at 8 p.m.
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