California braces as fierce storm batters fire-ravaged hillsides

"A rare October storm arrived in California on Tuesday and threatened to pummel wildfire-scarred Los Angeles neighborhoods with heavy rain, high winds and possible mudslides. Some homes were ordered to evacuate. The evacuations covered about 115 homes mostly in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, both struck by a massive inferno in January that killed more than 30 people in all and destroyed more than 17,000 homes and buildings in Los Angeles county."

"We're very concerned about the weather, Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, said during a news conference Monday night, explaining that strike teams, rescue teams and helicopters were all ready to respond. Downpours were moving through the area early Tuesday, with drivers hydroplaning and some accidents reported on flooded roads. Rainfall amounts ranged from less than half an inch (1.3cm) in Los Angeles county to about 1.5in (3.8cm) in San Luis Obispo county, the weather service said."

"More than 16,000 customers in southern and central California had already lost power, according to PowerOutage.us. The storm could result in up to 4in (10cm) of rain in some areas, according to the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office, which described it as a rare and very potent storm system. Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist in charge of the weather service in Los Angeles, said the storm could even bring a couple of tornadoes, and one major challenge is its unpredictability."

A rare October storm threatened wildfire-scarred Los Angeles neighborhoods with heavy rain, high winds and possible mudslides. Evacuations covered about 115 homes, mostly in Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon, areas devastated by a January inferno that killed more than 30 people and destroyed over 17,000 structures in Los Angeles County. A flash flood warning affected part of Santa Barbara County, where authorities issued a shelter-in-place for land burned last year and vulnerable to debris flows. Strike teams, rescue crews and helicopters were readied. Downpours caused hydroplaning and accidents; rainfall ranged from under 0.5 inch to about 1.5 inches locally, with up to 4 inches possible. More than 16,000 customers lost power. The National Weather Service called the system rare and potent and warned of unpredictability and possible tornadoes.

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