With many parts of Los Angeles County still recovering from recent wildfires, the upcoming rain could be both a welcome relief and a repeat of previous disasters. The National Weather Service forecasted a high chance of widespread rain, but the way it falls could make the difference between disaster relief or disaster repeat.
Light rain is expected, with a 5% to 10% chance of significant debris in burn scars for Los Angeles and Ventura County, and isolated heavy rain measuring up to 0.5 inches per hour. However, a sudden and intense amount of rain could lead to flash flooding, washing away burnt hillsides and releasing mud and debris.
Experts warn that the ground in LA has not seen rain all month, and a slow and steady stream of rain would be a relief, but brief heavy rain showers could be devastating. “It behaves more like cement; the ground can’t accept the water, so it all goes to runoff immediately,” said Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Local and state authorities are preparing for the potential complications the rain could bring, with emergency orders in place to prevent further harm to communities that have already suffered unimaginable loss. The Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, said, “These communities have already endured unimaginable loss – we are taking action against further harm.”
To prepare for the rain, more than 250,000 sandbags have been positioned in flood-prone areas, and debris dams have been dug into hillsides to catch loose sediment and branches. Residents in areas at risk of landslides have been advised to obtain sandbags in advance and know how to shut off their utilities in case of an emergency.
Despite the devastation, the county is in need of rain, with the area now in extreme drought for the first time in four years. The forecasted rain comes at the end of a red-flag warning period that prompted nearly 100,000 power customers to have their electricity shut off as a precaution.
