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A major rainstorm that will peak during the Christmas holiday is expected to arrive in Southern California tomorrow. The National Weather Service is now calling for rain Tuesday through Saturday, with heavy rainfall likely for several days. Four to eight inches of rain is expected in the valleys and along the coast. Eight to 12 inches of rain is expected in the foothills and mountains. Some areas could see more than a foot of rain total, with rainfall rates of up to an inch and a quarter per hour. Forecasters are also warning of dangerous mud and debris flows and gusty winds during the storm. This comes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with ten-point-two-million Southern Californians expected to travel, most of them driving.
Storm preparations are well underway in and near Los Angeles County’s recent burn scars. Officials say now is the time to fortify homes with sandbags, with sandbag distribution happening in Altadena and Malibu. Storm drains are also being cleared to prevent a buildup of mud and debris. Forecasters are calling for eight to 12 inches of rain in the foothills, with rainfall rates exceeding an inch per hour. That could be enough to trigger flash flooding, along with dangerous mud and debris flows, and rockslides.
