Evacuations ordered, schools closed as heavy rain threatens Southern California
Flood risks extend beyond the burn scar regions, with widespread flood alerts in place.
Schools are closed, and evacuation orders are in place in at least four Southern California communities with heavy rain elevating the risk of floods and mudslides.
Parts of San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Orange, and Los Angeles counties are affected.
Through Friday, some coastal regions can expect upwards of 76 mm of rain. Areas in the mountains could face nearly double that amount.
Land that endures a wildfire is more prone to mudslides and floods in the weeks and months following, due to the burn scars left behind.
The current flood risk, however, extends beyond burn scar regions, with widespread flood alerts in place.
Special care given to burn scars
Earlier this week, officials attempted to reinforce burn scars, with concrete barriers and sandbags placed in fire zones. Crews have also cleared storm drains, and have first responders on standby.
California Governor Gavin Newsom meets with crews amid burn scar preparations. (California Government)
How wildfires can elevate the risk of mudslides
Burn scars are susceptible to mudslides during rain events because they lack vegetation to keep the soil in place.
Wildfires alter the environment in several ways. Fires incinerate the trees and other vegetation that anchors the soil. When plants and their roots are removed en masse, it can loosen the soil and make it more susceptible to washing away in heavy rain.
And that's not all: Intense fires, like recent ones in LA, are also known to change the composition of soil, causing it to develop a wax-like layer that repels water.
This reduced absorbency makes rainwater more likely to pool on the ground, elevating flood risk.
On January 7, 2025, the first in what would be a series of devastating wildfires spread quickly through the LA area due to a lack of rain and strong winds. At one point, as many as 200,000 people were under an evacuation alert.
Header image: File photo via Canva Pro.