Rain is expected to bring relief to parched Southern California, aiding firefighters battling multiple wildfires. However, heavy downpours on charred hillsides pose a risk of toxic ash runoff and mudslides. Officials are working to mitigate the potential dangers, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
The sun set over the Pacific Ocean as President Donald Trump tours the Palisades Fire zone damage in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
The National Weather Service said most of the region would likely get less than an inch of precipitation, but "the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario" of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order this week to expedite cleanup efforts and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. LA County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood-control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.
Concerns about post-fire debris flows have been especially high since 2018, when the town of Montecito up the coast from LA was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge blaze. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were damaged.
WILDFIRES CALIFORNIA FLOOD RISK ASH RUNOFF WEATHER
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