New storm to bring risk of flood, landslides to Southern California

San Francisco Chronicle / February 3, 2024

Even as Californians are drying out from this week’s rain, another storm looms in the weekend forecast, with the biggest impacts expected in Southern California.

While there’s uncertainty among weather models, “the consensus is showing at least a good 24-hour period of pretty steady, moderate to heavy rain — with few, if any, breaks in between,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Los Angeles office, during a briefing Thursday.

The downpours bring heightened risk for life-threatening floods, according to officials, and damaging landslides — especially to communities in Santa Barbara County, where debris flows wreaked havoc in January 2023.

LINK (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/next-ca-storm-severe-rain-flooding-landslide-risk-18642723.php

According to the link:

• The heaviest rain is expected on Sunday and Monday, with the highest rainfall projections for southern portions of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties

• 3 to 6 inches of rain are expected, with the foothills and mountains logging 6 inches up to a foot of rain

• The biggest issue is how much rain we’re going to get in three- to six-hour blocks of time. -- Ryan Kittell, meteorologist

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Map at the link shows coastal flood risk extending roughly from Mendocino to Long Beach, with marginal risk extending into the Central Valley.