California is bracing for heavy rain and snow over the next week, with multiple storms moving in from the Pacific Ocean. Los Angeles could see as much rain as it usually gets in an entire month, and evacuation warnings are already in place for areas hit by wildfires earlier this year.
The wet weather will begin Thursday and continue through Saturday, followed by another round Sunday into Monday, and a third one expected next week. Forecasters warn that this pattern brings a serious risk of flooding and landslides, especially in places where wildfires stripped away vegetation. Bare, burned soil doesn’t absorb water well and can wash away quickly, creating dangerous mudslides.
Downtown Los Angeles is forecast to receive 2 to 3 inches of rain—well above the 0.8 inch it normally gets in the whole month of October. This means residents near burn scars should be ready for possible evacuation orders, which start Thursday evening and could last through Sunday.
Beyond mudslides, power outages are also a concern. The storms will bring heavy snow to the mountains north and east of Los Angeles, with some areas expecting up to 18 inches. Winter storm warnings and flood watches cover a large stretch from Mariposa down to Tehachapi.
These storms are part of a larger system called atmospheric rivers, which are common in the West during fall and winter. These rivers in the sky carry massive amounts of moisture—comparable to the flow of the Mississippi River—and can fill reservoirs but also cause flooding and damage.
Most of the West Coast from British Columbia to Mexico will see mild to moderate impacts, considered beneficial for the region’s water supply. However, some parts of Northern California could face severe storms at the highest levels, raising hazards around the Bay Area and other locations.
Along the coast, some areas may get five inches of rain or more, with San Francisco expecting between 1 and 2 inches. Officials and residents are urged to stay alert and prepared for quickly changing conditions as the storms roll in.