Flood concerns raised as thunderstorms hit Southern California burn scars

Southern California residents are waking up to rain and thunderstorms on Thursday, bringing flood concerns in our recent burn areas.

Forecasters are calling for the possibility of brief, heavy downpours with rainfall rates up to a half inch per hour throughout the day.

Firefighters in Los Angeles County will be keeping a close eye on the Altadena and Palisades burn scar areas, which are prone to mud and debris flow as the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario

bring moisture into the area.

The L.A. County Fire Department encouraged residents to take the following steps Thursday morning in preparation for the storms:

• Stay informed about the latest flood and flash flood watches, warnings and weather advisories
• Stay away from flood channels, catch basins, canyons and waterways, which are vulnerable to floods
• Avoid flooded areas and never enter moving water on foot or by vehicle
• If you have to evacuate, return to your home only after local authorities have said it is safe to do so
• Visit lacounty.pw/sandbags for locations to get sandbags and/or sand

Video recorded overnight showed heavy rain and lightning strikes in the Calabasas area. Similar conditions were reported in areas stretching all the way from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles County.

The NWS has issued flood watches through late Thursday night for portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.