Forecasters warn of mudslides, flooding from approaching storm

A forceful storm that is expected to hit the Southland on Friday night could bring heavy downpours, thunderstorms, flash flooding and possible mudslides, according to the National Weather Service.

Another round of evacuations are scheduled for residents of fire-ravaged foothill areas, but Los Angeles County public works officials said they were ready to confront nature’s blast.

The storm is expected to move across the Central Coast this evening, then southward into Ventura and Los Angeles counties overnight and Saturday, according to Bill Hoffer, a spokesman for the forecast office of the National Weather Service.

“We expect heavy rain across all counties with this storm system,” Hoffer said. “Los Angeles County will have the bulk of rain early Saturday morning.”

Rainfall rates are expected to peak to more than an inch-per-hour between midnight and 4 a.m. on Saturday. “A few south-facing slopes across Santa Barbara, Ventura and L.A. County could receive around 3 inches through Sunday morning,” Hoffer said.

A flash flood watch has been issued through Saturday for burn areas in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties in anticipation of debris flows.

Around 200 homes in La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta are subject to evacuation orders, said Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Reverse 911 calls alerting residents to the orders would be enacted at 3 p.m. Friday, and deputies would go door-to-door at around 4 p.m. telling residents to be out of their homes by 6 p.m..

New evacuation protocols have been established for foothill neighborhoods threatened by mudslides, with color codes being used to designate danger levels.

When the level is green, residents will be advised to monitor weather conditions. A yellow level indicates mandatory evacuations. Residents who evacuate in yellow conditions will be allowed to return to their homes before the order is lifted but will have to sign liability waivers, Nishida said.

Under a red level, residents who leave their homes will not be allowed to return until the evacuation warning is lifted. Residents who refuse to heed evacuation orders will also have to sign waivers.

Officials said they hoped evacuation-fatigued residents would comply with the regulations.

“We are trying to balance public safety with the inconvenience residents are feeling with having to evacuate again,” said Nishida. “It’s the sixth time in a couple of months.”

Officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works said they were confident they were prepared for the possible deluge. Seven smaller debris basins had been emptied, and the remaining 21 larger basins had available capacities of between 50% and 80%, according to Bob Spencer, a spokesman for the public works department.

“We believe there is enough capacity in the debris basins, and we can handle whatever may come our way this weekend,” Spencer said.