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California storm updates: State of emergency in effect as flooding, mudslides hit Southern California

PHOTO: Water rages past a cart filled with items used by homeless people living along the Los Angeles River as the second and more powerful of two atmospheric river storms inundates Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 2024.
2:21
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Deadly storm batters California
By Emily Shapiro, Morgan Winsor
Last Updated: February 7, 2024, 3:54 AM

A second storm within one week is pummeling California with heavy rain and life-threatening flooding.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a state of emergency for counties including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura, where floodwaters and mudslides have swept through roadways.

Latest headlines:

  • Latest forecast
  • Los Angeles mayor: 'This storm continues … take precautions'
  • By the numbers
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Feb 07, 2024 3:54 AM

LA reports 475 total mudslides since storms began

Los Angeles officials said Tuesday night there had been 475 mudslides since the storms brought rain to the area over the weekend. Thirty-eight buildings now need inspection due to mudslides and slope failures. So far, four buildings have been given no-entry red tags and nine are yellow tagged, which means people can only go into to collect their possessions. The city has also, at its most recent count, a record of 390 fallen trees and branches and 441 potholes. Authorities also said they've cleared 963 catch basis and stormwater conveyance systems.

-ABC News' Marilyn Heck


Feb 06, 2024 8:16 PM

Latest forecast

The heaviest rain is moving south of Los Angeles, toward San Diego, on Tuesday afternoon. By Tuesday night, the heavy rain will reach Arizona.

PHOTO: *An aerial view of the Los Angeles River swollen by storm runoff as a powerrful atmospheric river storm continues to impact southern California, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
An aerial view of the Los Angeles River swollen by storm runoff as a powerrful atmospheric river storm continues to impact southern California, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Flood watches will remain in effect through Tuesday night across Southern California, from Los Angeles to San Diego, as well as in parts of Nevada and Arizona.

A tornado warning has also been issued in the San Diego area.

Tornado Warning including Chula Vista CA, El Cajon CA and National City CA until 12:15 PM PST pic.twitter.com/tqXly1Huo0

— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) February 6, 2024

Through Thursday, an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible in parts of Southern California. With the ground already so saturated, mudslides and flash flooding will remain a threat for much of the week.

PHOTO: Workers shore up the Pacific Ocean coastline next to homes as a powerful atmospheric river storm continues to impact southern California, Feb. 5, 2024, near Malibu, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Workers shore up the Pacific Ocean coastline next to homes as a powerful atmospheric river storm continues to impact southern California, Feb. 5, 2024, near Malibu, Calif.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

PHOTO: Firefighters rescue a woman from a homeless encampment that became surrounded by floodwater in the Santa Ana River during a rainstorm, Feb. 5, 2024, in San Bernardino, Calif.
Ethan Swope/AP
Firefighters rescue a woman from a homeless encampment that became surrounded by floodwater in the Santa Ana River during a rainstorm, Feb. 5, 2024, in San Bernardino, Calif.
Ethan Swope/AP

-ABC News’ Melissa Griffin


Feb 06, 2024 5:48 PM

Los Angeles mayor: 'This storm continues … take precautions'

"This storm continues -- and that means we still need Angelenos to take precautions," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned Tuesday.

Periods of rain will continue Tuesday creating dangerous conditions on the roads and increasing the chance of mudslides and flooding, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said.

PHOTO: This aerial view shows a man shovelling mud after a landslide pushed a tree into his and his neighbor's houses, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images
This aerial view shows a man shovelling mud after a landslide pushed a tree into his and his neighbor's houses, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images

No fatalities have been reported in LA, Bass said.

Crews have responded to 307 mudslides and 257 fallen trees, Crowley said.

PHOTO: People stand near a garage that a landslide and flash flood smashed through in a hillside residential neighborhood, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images
People stand near a garage that a landslide and flash flood smashed through in a hillside residential neighborhood, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
David Mcnew/AFP via Getty Images

If you must go outside, use caution, Crowley warned. Slow down if driving and always be on the lookout for downed power lines and trees, she said.

The mayor commended residents who have checked on each other in hard-hit communities and stressed that everyone should check on their neighbors.

PHOTO: People gather where a home was destroyed by a mudslide as a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm,  Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
People gather where a home was destroyed by a mudslide as a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm, Feb. 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

PHOTO: Cars sit buried by a mudslide, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Cars sit buried by a mudslide, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

The "historic" rain is expected to taper off late Tuesday night, National Weather Service meteorologist Ariel Cohen said.

There’s a chance for more atmospheric rivers this spring, Cohen said.



Feb 06, 2024 3:53 PM

By the numbers

Downtown Los Angeles recorded 7.03 inches of rain on Sunday and Monday, marking the wettest two days in the city since 1956.

Damage from mud flows and land slides near Beverly Glenn, California pic.twitter.com/w5cvhiApsQ

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) February 5, 2024

Los Angeles averages 14.25 inches of rain for an entire year. So far this year, LA has recorded nearly 11 inches of rain, or 75% of the city's annual rainfall.

And the rain is still falling. As of Tuesday morning, the three-day rainfall totals have climbed to: 12.2 inches in San Bernardino County; 12 inches in Bel Air in Los Angeles County; 9.4 inches in Santa Barbara County; 8.7 inches in Ventura County and 7.6 inches in downtown Los Angeles.

The hills of LA are a mess with mud and debris across many roads … this is the worst we’ve seen with a home blasted off its lot onto the street with everything inside strewn downhill including a piano. Scary and sad. Was for sale and not occupied thankfully. pic.twitter.com/Ssuj2WHN4E

— Rob Marciano (@RobMarciano) February 5, 2024

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