Ryan Kittle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, told USA Today on Wednesday that there is a 60% to 80% chance of thunderstorms in the area starting Saturday, bringing two Up to inches of rain is possible.
If all goes as predicted, it could be the most significant rainfall in downtown Los Angeles since Christmas, when only 0.02 inches fell, he said.
“It’s hard to project at this point. We’ll have to see how things develop because the expected rainfall range is less than two inches,” Keitel said. “The best estimate for measurable rain will be throughout Sunday as the most likely fallout is half an inch – or less.”
A ‘minor chance’ of debris flows, landslides
Kettle added that the rain should provide a much-needed break for fire crews, but it could also increase the potential for flooding and debris flows on the fire’s hillsides.
He said there was a “10% slight chance of significant rainfall totals” and that heavy rain over the burn would increase the risk of debris flows.
“It’s a low risk for more rain, but it’s not at zero,” Keitel said. “This is something we have to pay attention to, especially those affected by the Eaton fire in Pasadena and Altadena.”
As a result, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up cleanup efforts and mitigate the effects of potential “toxic runoff”.
boss’ Executive order It hopes to “strip burn areas and prevent toxic debris flows” and “prevent additional damage to areas already damaged by fires and protect our watersheds, beaches and oceans from toxic runoff.”
The ordinance calls for the installation of barriers, debris removal and diversion of runoff from the city’s stormwater system to its sewer system, where the water can be treated.
Kittle said there is a “range of consequences” that can occur with rain.
“We can’t afford to let our guard down, there are still some unknowns so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” Kittle said. “We will be dealing with this situation for the next year or two with debris flows, floods and mudslides whenever there is a threat of rain.”
The predicted rain comes as thousands of firefighters battle a 45-square-mile wildfire in densely populated Los Angeles County. Cal Fire Report The two biggest firesthe Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire are at 68% and 91% containment, respectively. The wildfires have destroyed more than 15,000 structures, and killed at least 28 people.
Fires continued to flare up at other places in the region. On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters were battling new blazes, including a fast-growing brush fire that prompted evacuations in the Santa Clarita Valley. Another northwest of Los Angeles, called the Hughes Fire, grew by more than 500 acres in just one hour.
With severe drought conditions and low humidity, red flag warnings will remain in effect through Thursday as winds gust to 50 mph in Santa Ana and 75 mph for mountainous areas, Kittle said. Isolated gusts are forecast from
“If a fire does occur, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire growth, which will endanger life and property,” the weather service said in a red flag warning.
