A powerful winter storm unleashed devastating mudslides and floods across Southern California, forcing emergency evacuations and leaving debris-strewn devastation in its wake.
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, the heaviest rainfall pounded the region Thursday night into early Friday morning, triggering flash floods and mudslides throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties, as well as the Inland Empire.
The destructive weather event forced closures along PCH between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace after mud and debris flows swept vehicles off the road, including a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle that was carried into the ocean. The firefighter managed to escape with minor injuries. In Oxnard, meteorologists confirmed a weak tornado struck two mobile home communities, damaging about a dozen properties but causing no reported injuries.
The storm's impact was particularly severe in areas recently scarred by wildfires, where the absence of vegetation left hillsides vulnerable to debris flows.
Communities in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and the Hollywood Hills experienced significant mudslides and flash flooding, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for hundreds of residents.
Local hardware stores reported residents rushing to obtain protective materials like sandbags and tarps. The situation was especially dire for those still recovering from last month's devastating fires that destroyed thousands of structures across Los Angeles County.
Paola Vargas, a cashier at Ace Hardware in Altadena, shared her community's growing anxiety about the compounding disasters. She expressed how the area's residents were struggling to cope with consecutive catastrophes.
Law enforcement and emergency response teams conducted door-to-door warnings in high-risk areas, emphasizing the urgency of evacuation orders. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell stressed the mandatory nature of these evacuations.
The National Weather Service's Oxnard office provided some relief with their Friday morning update, indicating improving conditions and decreasing clouds and showers. The forecast suggests a return to pleasant weather by Saturday.
The weather event forced widespread closures and evacuations across multiple counties, affecting areas from Ventura to Orange County. Notable locations like Knott's Berry Farm shut down operations, while communities in burn-scarred regions faced mandatory evacuation orders.
The devastation extended to popular coastal establishments, including Duke's Malibu restaurant, which sustained significant flood damage despite surviving recent fires. Caltrans crews worked tirelessly to clear mud and debris from affected roadways.
Meteorologists noted the unusual nature of the tornado event in Oxnard, with National Weather Service meteorologist John Dumas explaining that while California tornadoes are rare, they can occur under specific storm conditions.
The powerful winter storm that struck Southern California Thursday brought unprecedented challenges to communities already reeling from recent wildfires. From Pacific Coast Highway's closure due to mudslides to a rare tornado in Oxnard, the extreme weather event forced hundreds of evacuations and caused extensive damage across multiple counties. As conditions improve and cleanup efforts begin, affected areas face the complex task of recovering from both fire and flood damage while authorities continue monitoring weather patterns for potential future risks.
