A severe flash flood warning was in effect for parts of Los Angeles County earlier today as a winter-style storm impacted WeHo and the wider Southern California region. The warning has since expired. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles/Oxnard issued the alert Saturday morning for the Eaton burn scar area and nearby neighborhoods in central Los Angeles County.
At 9:39 a.m. PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges showed heavy rain intensifying over the Eaton burn scar, with rainfall rates expected to reach between 0.5 and 1 inch in one hour. Meteorologists said the worst of the storm was expected Saturday, with brief downpours dropping up to a half inch of rain in about 30 minutes in some areas.
Forecasters described the system as “unusually strong” and warned it could trigger flash flooding, mudslides, road closures and debris flows.
The rain was expected to linger through Sunday, with a short break before another system was forecast to push through beginning next Thursday.
The City handed out free sandbags to residents and businesses to help them prepare, and it looks like it was a good call. Officials are also urging everyone to do a quick storm check at home and at work.
Basic prep tips include:
• Keep an emergency kit where you can get to it quickly, with a flashlight, water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, a battery powered or hand crank radio, and extra batteries.
• Clear leaves and debris from your gutters, downspouts and yard drains, and put trash and green waste in bins so it does not end up blocking storm drains.
• Make sure you and your household know how to turn off gas, water and electricity in an emergency.
• Track updated forecasts so you are not caught off guard during the heaviest periods of rain.
• Sign up for emergency alerts so you can get warnings on your phone if conditions change fast.
If you notice storm related problems in West Hollywood, such as blocked streets, localized flooding or fallen tree limbs, call the City at (323) 848 6375. For questions about structural damage or possible movement on a hillside property, contact the Building and Safety Division at (323) 848 6320.
For ongoing updates about City news and storm related information, follow @wehocity on social media, sign up for email updates at weho.org/email, and check the City calendar at weho.org/calendar.
Additional ways to stay informed:
• Subscribe to “Alert LA County” emergency notifications at ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications
• Subscribe to Nixle public safety alerts by texting your ZIP code to 888 777
Welcome to the Anthropocene where human activity has become a dominant force shaping the planet through activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and introducing species, leading to changes such as global warming, ocean acidification, and mass extinctions. Let’s NOT forget extreme weather events made more likely and severe like flash floods because a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor & has a higher saturation point. For every 1°C of warming, the air holds over 4% more moisture, leading to heavier & more frequent rainfall.