Santa Monica
LOOKOUT

By Jorge Casuso

February 12, 2025 -- The Los Angeles region is bracing for a major storm on Thursday that could flood wildfire-scorched areas in the Pacific Palisades and trigger dangerous landslides, FEMA warned.

After a milder storm Wednesday that is expected to produce a half-inch of rain, Thursday's storm could drop up to three inches of rain and six inches in the foothills.

"Because of burn scars, the wildfire areas in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have a heightened vulnerability to dangerous flooding," FEMA said on Tuesday.

"After a fire, soil can develop a top layer that repels water, resulting in flooding and debris flows that can disperse dangerous objects and materials."

Thursday's storm, which will likely be the strongest in more than a year, comes after a drought that saw downtown Los Angeles receive 2.65 inches of rain since the start of the wet season on October 1.

The heaviest rains are forecast to arrive between 2 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday, according to the regional National Weather Service.

Residents in or near the areas burned in last month's wildfires should evacuate the area or pack a “go-bag” and make an exit plan, FEMA officials said.

"If told to evacuate, don’t wait," officials said.

Those in fire-scorched areas should avoid flood debris that can include "sharp and heavy hidden objects that can cause serious injury and worse."

They also should heed the guidance of local authorities, officials said. "With flooding events come other hazards, including broken utility lines and disrupted infrastructure."

The fire that started in Pacific Palisades just northwest of Santa Monica on January 7 has burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed 6,660 structures, including 80 percent of the homes in the area.

LA City and County officials have installed more than 7,500 feet of concrete barriers and piled more than 6,500 sandbags across the area.
Crews allso have cleared catch basins and storm drains, LA Mayor Karen Bass said at a press conference Tuesday.

At the conference, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced the start of Phase 2 of debris removal.

"With federal, state and local partners working together, we are getting resources on the ground and moving with unprecedented urgency to clear debris and rebuild," Horvath said.

"This is the fastest debris removal effort in state history, and we are committed to making sure Los Angeles County communities recover as quickly and safely as possible."

The storms are expected to begin sweeping through the area one day after LA County officials announced they had downgraded the Ocean Water Closure from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach to an Ocean Water Advisory.

"This advisory is in effect out of an abundance of caution due to the forecasted rain which may result in fire debris entering coastal water through surface water runoff and windblown ash," according to the LA Couny Public Health website.