Residents along the Los Angeles coastline were urged to evacuate immediately on Saturday as a powerful storm system triggered an urgent flash flood warning. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the alert for coastal areas, with the city of Malibu specifically directing its residents to seek higher ground and obey all evacuation directives.
Urgent Evacuation Orders and Safety Measures
Authorities issued a stark warning to locals, instructing them to never attempt to walk or drive through floodwaters and to stay well away from any downed power lines. Less than 30 minutes after the initial alert, the NWS dramatically expanded the flash flood warning to include virtually the entire greater Los Angeles area.
The NWS attributed the severe conditions to an 'unusually strong storm system', forecasting heavy rain and potentially dangerous flooding to persist until Sunday. The intense rainfall threatened to cause flash flooding, destructive debris flows, and mudslides, prompting officials to tell residents to 'pay close attention to the latest warnings'.
Specific Threats to Malibu and Recent Burn Areas
In Malibu, officials urged residents to use sandbags to protect their properties, with a specific caveat that plastic sandbags were banned in the city due to environmental concerns dating back to 2017. The city also reiterated that taking sand from the beach remained illegal, even during the emergency.
The weather was expected to cause power and traffic signal outages in the area. The rain, which the NWS said could fall at 'a little over' a half inch per hour, posed a severe threat of debris flows, particularly in recent burn areas. These life-threatening avalanches of mud, rocks, and debris can form in minutes and travel for miles.
Areas scorched by previous wildfires, such as the zone affected by the Palisades Fire in January, are especially vulnerable because the fires compromise the soil's ability to absorb water. This was a major concern for Malibu and the Pacific Palisades. Mudslides were also cited as a dangerous possibility, particularly in canyon regions.
Expanded Warnings and Affected Regions
Residents were instructed to 'leave immediately' if an evacuation order was given. The city issued special guidance for people with disabilities and horse owners, advising them that they 'may need more time to evacuate' and should consider leaving early.
The initial flash flood warning for Malibu was extended at 12.30pm local time through to 2pm. However, shortly before that time, the NWS confirmed that the warning—along with all others in the immediate area—had expired.
The widespread flash flooding alert also impacted numerous other regions surrounding Los Angeles, including:
- Agoura Hills
- Pasadena
- Santa Monica
- Glendale
- Inglewood
- Compton
- Simi Valley
- Thousand Oaks
- Torrance
Despite the expiration of the most severe warnings, the NWS stated that a flood watch remained in effect for Malibu until 8pm local time, with a thunderstorm still expected Saturday afternoon or night. A watch indicates that flooding is possible, whereas a warning means it is imminent or already occurring.
