Heavy Rainstorm Hits Southern California—Mass Evacuations in Full Swing
On Monday, a brutal rainstorm rolled over Southern California, turning the smooth slopes of the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties into a potential mudslide soup. The storm delivered a deluge that could pump in more than an inch of rain every hour.
Why the Wildfires of December Still Loom
- Burn scars lingered. The December blaze, especially the Thomas Fire, the state’s largest ever, stripped away the vegetation that keeps soil steady.
- Clogged drainage. Those fires baked a waxy layer into the earth’s surface, making it harder for water to seep down.
- Dead plain as a match. The result? A perfect mix for mud and debris to flood the already vulnerable hillside.
Officials Call on Residents to Pack Their Bags
The National Weather Service warned that the “recent burn areas” were especially ripe for dangerous mud and debris flows. Residents in the easiest hit zones—mountain foothills and scenic valleys—were either evacuated or strongly urged to leave.
ABC news tallied roughly 30,000 people under evacuation orders or advisories on such a busy Monday.
Rain Totals—Not Just a Sunny Forecast
- Foothills & mountains saw 4–7 inches (10–18 cm) of rain.
- Isolated spots may have received as much as 9 inches (23 cm).
- Higher elevations could have turned into pure winter—3 inches to 2 feet (7 cm to 61 cm) of snow!
Local Voices: Stress, Tears, and a Bit of Humor
“I’m just tired. I can’t seem to get my life kick-started,” Teri Lebow (Montecito resident) sighed to the Los Angeles Times after her home was battered by the wildfires.
While the sky poured hard, many locals expressed a mix of frustration, fear, and a stubborn kind of humor—trying to keep life moving in the face of nature’s relentless drama.
Takeaway
It’s a brutal reminder: when the earth is scorched, a sudden downpour is basically a recipe for trouble. The best defense? Stay informed, heed the warnings, and, if you’re near a burn scar, head for higher ground.
