Rain Friday night into Saturday morning is expected to cause more flooding, mudslides and debris flows in neighborhoods across Malibu; authorities are especially concerned about landslides in areas that burned in November’s Woolsey Fire.
Rainfall could total from 1/2 to 3/4-inch per hour during the peak of the storm, expected between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12. “There is a chance of thunderstorms, especially in coastal areas, which can increase rainfall rates,” the city wrote.
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Decker Canyon Road will be closed “as a precaution,” in anticipation of damaging floods and possible mudslides. California Highway Patrol will be staffing the road closure round-the-clock until danger has passed; residents with adequate ID will be allowed to enter.
The storm will also bring heavy wind. “Gusty winds up to 35-50 mph could bring down tree branches, which could present road hazards and power outages,” according to the city.Â
The City of Malibu has offered information on how to prepare for rain here.
The city has also produced a number of “flood and vulnerability maps” for residents’ reference in preparing for coming rain. They are available here.
Sandbags were still available at local fire stations, including:
Station #70 – 3970 Carbon Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Station #71 – 28722 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Station #88 – 23720 Malibu Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Station #99 – 32550 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Zuma Beach Lifeguard Headquarters – pre-filled sandbags available
The National Weather Service published a Special Weather Statement regarding the impending storm:
An approaching cold front combined with increasing instability will bring a threat of thunderstorms to the coastal waters of Southwest California tonight through Saturday morning. Some of these thunderstorms will likely come ashore across coastal and valley areas, mainly south of Point Conception. The thunderstorm threat will begin across Santa Barbara County this evening, spreading to Ventura and Los Angeles Counties overnight. Any thunderstorms that develop will bring the potential for brief heavy downpours, locally damaging wind gusts up to 50 mph, small hail, and dangerous cloud to ground lightning. Peak rainfall rates between 0.50 and 0.75 inches per hour will be likely with this system, and could be locally higher directly under thunderstorms. Conditions will also be favorable for isolated waterspouts and funnel clouds. The heaviest rainfall is expected to occur across Santa Barbara and western Ventura counties (including the Thomas Fire burn area) between 9 pm and 2 am tonight, then spreading into eastern Ventura and Los Angeles counties (including the Hill and Woolsey burn areas) sometime between 2 am and 9 am. The high intensity rainfall rates expected will likely bring roadway flooding as well as the threat of shallow mud and debris flows in the recent burn areas and rockslides in canyon roadways, including Pacific Coast Highway. Anyone near burn areas should continue to closely monitor media and messages from local officials.
More rain was expected, beginning Monday, Jan. 14, and continuing off-and-on through Thursday, Jan. 17. With the continuing rain forecast came a heightened chance of flooding, mudslides, road closures and power outages.