Southern California is About to Get Its First Rain in Months
A Small Amount of Rain Expected to Bring Relief to the Region
After a day of strong winds that fueled small scattered fires across Southern California, hope to cut back on wildfire risks may finally be on the horizon. A small amount of rain is in the forecast for the region beginning late Friday through early Saturday, a much-anticipated change of weather for the region, which has suffered through a prolonged dry spell that has fueled deadly and destructive fires.
Rain Totals Expected to Vary Across the Region
In Los Angeles County, where the Palisades and Eaton fires have carved a devastating path this month, under a third of an inch of rain is expected. Rain totals could, however, be slightly higher in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and other places, said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Beneficial, But Not Enough to End the Fire Season
“Obviously it’s going to be very welcome to get some sort of moisture here,” Lewis said. “In terms of ending the fire season, it’s probably not going to be enough for that. But it’ll certainly help a little bit.”
Concerns About Mudflows and Landslides
While a smattering of rain would be beneficial for dry conditions, too much could trigger mudflows and landslides within burn scars. “I normally pray for rain. God knows we generally need it,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes Pacific Palisades. “The burn scar of the Palisades fire not only sits feet from the ocean itself, but on hillsides that are already prone to slide and which have already absorbed a tremendous amount of water from firefighting, broken pipes and melted pools.”
City of Los Angeles Prepares for the Rain
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxic debris in preparation for the incoming rain. The city’s Public Works Department will install barriers, remove debris, and divert runoff from the stormwater system into the sewer system, where it can be treated.
National Weather Service Warns of a “Particularly Dangerous Situation”
Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said there’s an upper low that’s coming overhead with this rain event that can sometimes create instability and trigger higher rain totals, but the likelihood of that happening over the Palisades is very low. “I mean, it would have to be just, like, the worst of luck,” Wofford said. “First of all, we’d have to get some convection and it would have to form just in the right area.”
Rain Would Need to Fall Quickly to Trigger Landslides
The rain would also need to fall at a rate much faster than expected for a landslide to occur. When intense rain falls quickly, the soil absorbs water rapidly and eventually reaches a saturation point where it can no longer hold moisture, triggering instability. “If a quarter-inch fell in 30 seconds, then, yes,” Wofford said. “But if it falls over hours, then it’s definitely not an issue.”
Conclusion
As the region prepares for the rain, the National Weather Service’s warning of a “particularly dangerous situation” with extreme wind gusts ended Tuesday morning for swaths of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The notice marked the fifth time the weather service has sounded the alarm this season for acute fire conditions.
FAQs
* What is the expected amount of rain in Los Angeles County?
+ Under a third of an inch is expected in Los Angeles County.
* Will the rain end the fire season?
+ No, the rain is not expected to be enough to end the fire season.
* Are there concerns about mudflows and landslides?
+ Yes, there are concerns that too much rain could trigger mudflows and landslides within burn scars.
* How is the City of Los Angeles preparing for the rain?
+ The city has issued an executive order to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxic debris, and the Public Works Department will install barriers, remove debris, and divert runoff from the stormwater system into the sewer system.
