Mud slides, trees fall and power is zapped as 3-day storm lashes Southern California
A flood watch remained in effect as steady rain continued to fall across much of Southern California on Tuesday, midway into a three-day storm threatening mudslides and flooding throughout the region.
The storm closed Knotts Berry Farm for the second day in a row on Tuesday, dozens of trees were reported down in Los Angeles, and thousands of customers had their power restored.
A storm brought strong winds, rain and rough surf to Huntington Beach as visitors pose for a photo just south of the Huntington Beach Pier on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A view from Seapoint Street in Huntington Beach looks north along Pacific Coast Highway which is closed due to coastal flooding, as another storm brought rough surf, rain, winds and cool temperatures to Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Huntington Beach lifeguard patrols an empty beach as a storm brought strong winds, rain and rough surf to Huntington Beach on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman plays fetch with her Golden retriever in Irvine, CA on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 as storms continued to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A lone body boarder braves the rough water and rain while riding a wave adjacent to the Seal Beach Pier in Seal Beach on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20, 2024, as another storm soaks Orange County and Southern California. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Waves break against the pilings of the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach as another storm brought rough surf, rain, winds and cool temperatures to Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman seems to enjoy the weather as she braves the strong wind and rain while walking along the beach just west of the Seal Beach Pier in Seal Beach on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20, 2024, as another storm soaks Orange County and Southern California. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A man is reflected in puddles in Irvine, CA on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 as storms continued to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Another storm brought rain, winds and cool temperatures to Orange County and Southern California as visitors walk with umbrellas along Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A dog leads the way during a wet walk along Loretta Drive in North Tustin as another storm brings rain and winds to Orange County and Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A view from Seapoint Street in Huntington Beach looks north along Pacific Coast Highway which is closed due to coastal flooding, as another storm brought rough surf, rain, winds and cool temperatures to Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A man braces himself from the wind and rain with his umbrella during a walk along the Seal Beach Pier in Seal Beach on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, as another storm soaks Orange County and Southern California. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors get a view of the storm from the overlook at Harbor Point Conservation Park in Dana Point, CA, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tarps cover the site of a landslide in San Clemente, CA, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. The slipping slope stopped train service between Orange and San Diego counties last month and caused the closure of the Mariposa Bridge, part fo the beach pedestrian trail., (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tarps hang behind a cliff-top home along Scenic Drive in Dana Point, CA, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Mud, rocks and debris broke loose along the bluffs causing the landslide that happened Feb. 7, following several days of rainfall in the area from a “Pineapple Express” that storm rolled through Southern California. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“The threat of flash flooding is minimal today (Tuesday), but due to the potential for moderate to heavy rain moving in tonight into Wednesday morning, a flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday morning for most of southwest California,” the National Weather Service said.
As of Tuesday morning, the city of Los Angeles received 87 reports of fallen trees, 39 reports of flooding and 31 reports of debris and mudflows. There were still 460 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers without power after it was restored to more than 29,000 others.
Los Angeles County Public Works officials reiterated their debris flow forecast for the Land fire burn area east of Sun Valley.
The alert will be in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, which said moderate flooding and mudflow/sediment deposition should be anticipated in the area of McDonald Creek, Del Arroyo Drive and La Tuna Canyon Road.
Road closures were in effect on Mulholland Drive, and the Sepulveda Basin was closed. CalTrans has also closed the northbound 405 freeway off-ramp at Skirball Drive because of a sinkhole.
Although there were concerns of a mudslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, prompting residents to ask the state for assistance, no significant damage was reported as of mid-Tuesday afternoon.