The biggest concern with a storm barreling into the West today into tonightwill be very heavy rainfall and resultant flash flooding. The stretch of theWest Coast from southwestern Oregon through Southern California and the SierraNevada will be at greatest risk for flooding and mudslides.Recently burned areas, including locations in the San Gabriel Mountains thatwere charred by the massive Station Fire, could have serious flooding. The latesummer fire killed two firefighters and destroyed 89 homes. It was the biggestfire in the history of Los Angeles County.
Sandbags and concrete barriers have been positioned on streets in suburbsnortheast of Los Angeles to direct any debris flows that develop away fromhomes. Residents in these communities should be on alert in case of anyevacuations.
Heavy rainfall, on the order of 2-4 inches, will douse a large portion of thehilly region just inland from the coast and also through the Sierra Nevadatoday through tonight. The combination of flash flooding and sudden mudslidescould lead to some road closures and could even put lives in jeopardy. A fewmountain locations may even get as much as 8 inches of rain!This will be a warm storm, so snow levels in the Sierra will be near 8,000feet, which is well above pass level and good news for motorists who travelacross Donner Pass on Interstate 80 (elevation just above 7,000 feet).
Story By AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.
