Officials closed part of Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades fire area on Sunday, Caltrans said, as rain poured down across the Los Angeles area and burn scars in Southern California were under a flood watch that will last until 4 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
On social media, Caltrans said rain-caused mudflows in Topanga Canyon prompted the isolated closure of PCH west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
As the rain continued, a National Weather Service flash flood warning was in effect for the Malibu area through 11 p.m. Sunday. The warning was for the Franklin fire burn scar and parts of the Palisades fire area. Such a warning means flooding has been reported or is imminent.
The “time of greatest concern” for elevated rain rates and/or thunderstorms was through 10 a.m. Monday, the NWS said on its website.
The Los Angeles Fire Department separately announced the closure of a stretch of Palisades Drive because of a mudflow.
Dozers were working to clear the area, and there was a closure at Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive.
Officials also responded to rocks in the roadway that gave multiple vehicles flat tires around 7:07 p.m. in the area of Angeles Crest Highway and Gould Mesa Motorway in La Cañada Flintridge.
Caltrans responded to the scene and helped clear the rocks from the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. No injuries were reported.
Officials said they regularly have to clean rocks from the roadway during flood conditions. The CHP couldn’t immediately specify how many cars were affected or if they needed to be removed from the scene.
Also, the 5 Freeway in the Grapevine area, in the northern Los Angeles County/Kern County area, was subject to closures because of snow. Check the CHP-Fort Tejonsocial media for information on the status of the freeway. Or see the Caltrans QuickMap.
Rain-caused mudflows in Topanga Canyon prompted the isolated closure of Pacific Coast Highway west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. (Photo courtesy Caltrans)
Crews Sunday dealt with a mudflow in Woodland Hills at 4100 N. Alhama Drive, at Mulholland Drive. There were no injuries or rescues involved, but four vehicles were temporarily stuck in the mud, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy LAFD)
Wyatt Bridges hangs a flag from the remains of his home on Sunset Boulevard that burned in the Pacific Palisades fire, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteers sift through the ashes of a home burned in the Pacific Palisades fire on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Fire Department fire fighters with Engine 43 survey the devastation of the Pacific Palisades Fire on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the California Conservation Corps, Santa Maria Crew #8, lay out berms to control the hazardous run-off from the Pacific Palisades fire in preparation for rain on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the California Conservation Corps, Santa Maria Crew #8, lay out berms to control the hazardous run-off from the Pacific Palisades fire in preparation for rain on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the California Conservation Corps, Chico Crew #26, lay out berms to control the hazardous run-off from the Pacific Palisades fire in preparation for rain on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A flag hangs in front of the remains of a home burned in the Pacific Palisades Fire on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Members of the California Conservation Corps, Santa Maria Crew #8, lay out berms to control the hazardous run-off from the Pacific Palisades fire in preparation for rain on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
James Mc Elvaney carries his mother-in-law’s belongings from her home that was left intact while her entire neighborhood burned in the Pacific Palisades fire, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
LA Conservation Corps workers lay down “wattles,” or tubes with compressed hay, to contain debris and contaminants from flowing downhill during storms.They were working on Cresent Drive in Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Streets are jammed with workers in fire-ravaged Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 just ahead of expected storms. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Storm clouds loom over fire-ravaged Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 while utility lines are worked on. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LA Conservation Corps workers lay down “wattles,” or tubes with compressed hay, to contain debris and contaminants from flowing downhill during storms.They were working on Cresent Drive in Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LA Conservation Corps workers lay down “wattles,” or tubes with compressed hay, to contain debris and contaminants from flowing downhill during storms.They were working on Cresent Drive in Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jennifer May Nickel says she’s not a glass half-empty kind of person so she performed “Singin’ in the Rain,” in front of her burned-down home in Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 while her friends record her for her Instagram account: Jennifermaydesigns. The tv costume designer lost everything in the home she lived in for 7 years with her husband. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A blue child’s bike sits in stark contrast to a gutted hardware store in Altadena on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 as the town was bracing for storms. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Rain-caused mudflows in Topanga Canyon prompted the isolated closure of Pacific Coast Highway west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. (Photo courtesy Caltrans)
Assorted road closures were announced by agencies Sunday because of the fire and flood concerns, including Malibu Canyon Road between Piuma Road and Francisco Ranch Road.
(Caltrans)
The LAFD separately reported a mudflow in Woodland Hills at 4100 N. Alhama Drive, at Mulholland Drive. There were no injuries or rescues involved, but four vehicles were temporarily stuck in the mud, the LAFD said. One was a fire agency pickup truck.
Meteorologists warned of floods as rain began Saturday and continued Sunday. While the rain can help alleviate dry conditions that helped fuel wildfires across the region, the hills can’t absorb water after vegetation has burned, leading to debris flows, flooding and mudslides.
Flood watches were issued from 4 p.m. Sunday until 4 p.m. Monday for areas impacted by the Palisades and Franklin fires in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena, the Hughes fire around Lake Castaic and the Bridge fire in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora.
Staff writer Sydney Barragan contributed reporting.
