Much-needed rain eyes Southern California this weekend: What it means for burn scars, wildfires
Before the rain arrives, Southern California was under fire weather alerts.
California on alert for more files but rain is on the way
An upper-level disturbance will likely swing in from the Pacific this weekend bringing the region its first real widespread rain in months. The rain and mountain snow will begin on Saturday, peak in coverage Sunday and then wind down Monday, the FOX Forecast Center said.
LOS ANGELES – After months of dry, windy conditions contributing to deadly wildfires in Southern California, the parched region is finally set to receive much-needed rain this weekend. While that may be good news for firefighting, it presents a new danger of flash flooding and mudslides.
A significant change in the weather pattern is coming to the region as an area of low pressure moves south.
(FOX Weather)
The forecast for the next 10 days shows rain falling in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, ranging from a half-inch to upwards of 2 inches.
Higher elevations between 3,000 and 4,000 feet are likely to see snow with much colder temperatures in the mountains.
Still, the needed moisture will bring new threats to burn-scar areas with ash and fire debris. These incredibly parched areas can flood quickly without vegetation to absorb the water and stabilize hillsides.
"Just a short period of moderate rainfall on a burn scar can lead to flash floods and debris flows," the National Weather Service said. "Rainfall that is normally absorbed by vegetation can run off almost instantly. This causes creeks and drainage areas to flood much sooner during a storm, and with more water, than normal."
FILE IMAGE: Cal Firefighter Alex Jimenez walks out after marking a spot with a stick where he found a body under the mud at a house along Glen Oaks Drive in Montecito after a major storm hit the burn area Wednesday on January 10, 2018 in Montecito, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images)
In addition, soils inside burn scars can contain significant amounts of mud, boulders, vegetation and ash composed of toxic materials.
Debris slides can also be triggered without rain. FOX 11 Los Angeles reported a home spared by the Palisades Fire was cut in half by a debris slide last week.
Resources are being deployed across Los Angeles County ahead of the incoming rain.
MUDSLIDE RISK PRESENTS DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE VICTIMS AS WETTEST MONTH LOOMS
"Our objective in this incident is to protect the public property and the natural environment from potential mud and debris flows and pollution," L.A. County Department of Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said on Wednesday. "Currently, our crews are clearing debris from streets cleaning and preparing debris basins, deploying sandbags and other systems to keep runoff with ash and other burnt debris from entering the storm drain system."
Residents can request county engineers to assess their properties for potential risks caused by the fires and debris flow mitigation.
An aerial view of repair vehicles at sunset passing near beachfront homes that burned in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 15, 2025 in Malibu, California.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Pestrella advised residents with homes located along the burn area with a slope behind their property above 20 feet to leave.
"Your best bet is not to be in that home when it rains. The most conservative thing to do is to not be in that home when it rains," he said.
Pestrella said residents who have returned home after the Palisades and Eaton fires are being asked to stay off the roads while crews work to prepare the area ahead of the rain and clear debris afterward.
"We do expect sediment and debris to make its way to the street systems in the Palisades area, in the Eaton area," he said. "It's not expected to be a tremendous amount of debris, but enough to actually cause transportation problems for our first responders, as well as residents that may be trying to travel."
However, before the rain arrives, Southern California remains under a Fire Weather Warning through Friday morning due to renewed Santa Ana winds, which have allowed new blazes to spread rapidly and prompted evacuations.
Roaring winds drive fire weather danger in Southern California through Friday
With rain finally in the forecast the weekend, firefighters have been busy containing new fire starts amid critical fire weather due to roaring Santa Ana winds. Firefighters were able to stop forward progression of the newest fires, the Laguna and Sepulveda fires.