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New Year's Storm to Soak Southern California Tonight Into Thursday as Evacuation Warnings Begin

Saturated ground from last week’s deluge raises debris‑flow danger in burn scars, prompting preparedness actions across the region.

Overview

  • The National Weather Service forecasts the heaviest rain from Wednesday night into Thursday, with showers likely lingering into Friday.
  • Flood watches cover much of Southern and Central California through Thursday evening, including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
  • Los Angeles County issued 11 a.m. Wednesday evacuation warnings for multiple burn‑scar zones such as Palisades, Eaton, Canyon, Bridge, Sunset and Kenneth areas due to debris‑flow risk.
  • Most coastal and inland valleys are projected to receive up to about 2 inches of rain, with higher totals in foothills and mountains, and wind gusts reaching roughly 45–55 mph in some inland areas.
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom announced pre‑positioned resources including swift‑water teams, bulldozers, fire engines, helicopters and support crews, and officials warned of downed trees, rockslides and localized flooding; Pasadena’s Rose Parade is expected to be wet, though rain may ease by the Rose Bowl kickoff.