Mudslides reported as strange storms continue
In Sierra Madre, flows cause a few evacuations but no damage. More rain and possible floods are expected throughout Southern California.
Sierra Madre police and fire officials are getting reports of mudflows this morning in the wake of a wild spring thunderstorm that wreaked havoc across Southern California, flipping a big-rig truck, derailing a freight train and causing widespread traffic delays, property damage and road closures.
Minor mudslides repeatedly shut down parts of two streets in the area of Sierra Madre known as the Canyon -- along Little Santa Anita Canyon on Skyland Drive and Woodland Drive, said James Carlson, a city spokesman. No homes have been damaged and no injuries reported, he said.
"Thursday evening we had our first mudflow and started voluntary evacuations -- and after the rain subsided, we ended cleanup efforts at 1 a.m. today," Carlson said. "But then we got new reports before 7 a.m. again that new flows had occurred at the same two locations. So we decided to open an emergency operations center, ask for voluntary evacuations and close the roads."
Voluntary evacuation is still in effect on Skyland and on Woodland north of Mary's Market, Carlson said. The evacuation center is Sierra Vista Park, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., and sandbags are being provided to residents. A plow was brought in to clear the muck and there is no immediate danger to the homes, he said, adding, "We're still keeping an eye on the situation."
The weather conditions were very different from those nearly a month ago, when about 1,000 residents were evacuated from 200 homes in the upper part of Sierra Madre as Southern California broiled in record-breaking heat. The Sierra Madre fire ended up scorching more than 580 acres over a week and primed the area for mudslides.
While rain will be widespread throughout the region today, it is not expected be as severe as yesterday's wet weather, the National Weather Service reported. Still, authorities are keeping an eye out for flooding and mudslides.
Rain is heaviest this morning in the San Gabriel Mountains east of downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles County has a 20% chance of thunderstorms for most of the day, said National Weather Service specialist Stuart Seto.
"The low pressure in Nevada is now moving into Southern California, so that means more showers would spread westward -- toward Ventura and Santa Barbara counties," Seto said. "For us, we will see more activity today but we don't know how severe. There'll be more showers over a larger area, though."
