Storm Brings Mudslides, Traffic Troubles

Heavy seasonal rainstorms hit the Los Angeles-area Sunday, wreaking havoc on the roads, uncorking mudslides, flooding highways and sparking flash flood warnings across Los Angeles and Orange counties.

By nightfall half an inch of rain had fallen in downtown Los Angeles, 0.6 of an inch in Long Beach and 0.7 in Burbank. As much as 2 inches could accumulate in the Los Angeles Basin before the rains taper off tonight, said Guy Pearson, a forecaster at WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts to The Times.

The rain is predicted to continue sporadically through the week.

Even with a wet February, Los Angeles has received only 4.5 inches of rain this season compared to an average of 10.04 by this time of year, Pearson said.

“This month you’re playing catch-up,” he said.

The reason for the sogginess is that the winter storm systems are tracking farther south than normal, Pearson said. The result is that Angelenos are experiencing a February more suitable for the Bay Area.

The rain flooded freeways Sunday, sending cars hydroplaning and increasing accidents by about 40%, said Officer Rosa Ray of the California Highway Patrol. Two lanes of the northbound Golden State freeway near Gorman were closed when the downpour created giant potholes.

“It’s crazy out there,” she said.

The rain also forced the closure of the Sepulveda Basin because of flooding and triggered mudslides and rockslides across the county. Boulders the size of 30-gallon fuel drums blocked Topanga Canyon Boulevard south of Old Topanga Canyon Road, Ray said. Other mudslides blocked Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and San Gabriel Canyon Road at East Fork in the Angeles National Forest.

High winds caused power outages to 6,000 homes in Santa Monica, San Pedro and the South Bay.