Latest Storm Alerts

From Carolyn Seitz: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has provided the following updated information regarding the current storm event.

This update covers the period from 8 am this morning to 6:00 am Monday, December 20th.

RAINFALL        This morning, they have organized the data differently.  Here is the anticipated rainfall for the mountain areas:

       Anticipate 0.2 to 0.5 inch rainfall between 3 AM Sun – 6 AM Sun
         Anticipate 0.4 to 0.7 inch rainfall between 6 AM Sun – NOON Sun
         Anticipate 0.3 to 0.5 inch rainfall between NOON Sun – 6 PM Sun
         Anticipate 0.75 to 1.0 inch rainfall between 6 PM Sun – 6 AM Mon

For the valleys, they provide the following data:

        Anticipate 0.1 to 0.3 inch rainfall between 3 AM Sun – 6 AM Sun
          Anticipate 0.2 to 0.5 inch rainfall between 6 AM Sun – NOON Sun
         Anticipate 0.2 to 0.4 inch rainfall between NOON Sun – 6 PM Sun
         Anticipate 0.3 to 0.7 inch rainfall between 6 PM Sun – 6 AM Mon

ROAD CLOSURES        In addition to those announced yesterday, they have added Angeles Crest Highway and the Angeles Forest Highway/Aliso Canyon area.   For Altadena, the Chaney Trail gate is closed and the Millard Canyon Campground was evacuated.

FLOOD, MUD & DEBRIS    Their data this morning indicates a low potential for flooding, mud and debris flows in the burn areas, but please continue to exercise caution in those areas that are known to flood or be subject to mud and debris flows.

Stay alert and stay safe!

Additional updates will be provided when available.

To review the data provided by the County’s Department of Public Works, here’s the link:

http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf

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Weekend Storm Alerts for Burn Areas

From Carolyn Seitz:

As of 4:00 am this morning, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has released the following information about the current storm event.

For the La Canada/Flintridge and Altadena burn areas:

RAINFALL – The County has revised their prediction about the amount of rainfall anticipated between 4:00 am this morning and 4:00 am Sunday. The amount of rainfall now predicted is 2.2 inches As a result of the change in the rainfall forecast, the flooding, mud and debris flow forecasts have also been revised. At this time, no significant flooding, mud or debris flows are predicted for the Altadena burn areas, but because there could be periods of heavy rain, please continue to exercise caution and stay alert to the conditions around you, especially in those areas already known to be impacted during storm events.

ROAD CLOSURES – The road closures announced in the last update remain in effect. One additional closure of note in Altadena is the closure of the gate on Chaney Trail near the National Forest boundary.

ANGELES FOREST HY FROM ANGELES CREST HY TO ALISO CYN RD – Beginning Sunday, December 19

MT WILSON RED BOX RD FROM VIDEO RD TO ANGELES CREST HY – Beginning at 2:00 am, Sunday, December 19 Other public roads in the Angeles National Forest may be subject to closure due to mudflow/debris deposition at numerous locations below the burned hillsides.

EVACUATIONS – CLOSURES The Millard Canyon Campground was ordered closed by the Angeles National Forest. If you want to see the current forecasts issues by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, here is the link: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf If you have questions, please let me know. As always, stay safe!

 

Storm Alert

From Carolyn Seitz:

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has released information on the storm expected to arrive in our area around 6 pm Friday, February 19.

The National Weather Service is predicting rainfall of 1 to 2 inches in the foothill areas between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, with a slight chance of thunderstorms Friday night and early Saturday morning that may produce higher rainfall amounts.

 The mud and debris flow alert reminds us all that we should anticipate that mud and debris may flow down the canyons below the burn areas, in the watercourses and streams. In Altadena, it means that there is still a potential for impact on Canyon Crest.

The County continues to prepare, and will be monitoring the debris basins during the storm, and as many of you are aware, will continue to clean the basins and inlets, before, during and after the storm. There is no evacuation anticipated for Altadena, except that the Millard Campground area remains closed. There are no road closures in Altadena except the existing closure at the Chaney Trail Gate.

As the agencies release updated information, I’ll pass along what is released. If you’re interested in seeing the mud and debris flow predictions – the “mudcast” as it’s being called, you can find the information at this location: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf

 

Incident Update for Altadena Area

At this evening’s conference call with the Incident Commanders, we learned the following things:
During today’s rains, there were no injuries, no damage and no reportable incidents attributable to flooding, mud or debris flows
None of the debris basins breached their capacity today

The Weather Service is indicating that there is another band of showers expected to arrive in the area around 11 pm tonight and it will be followed by a trailing cold front that is expected to produce thunder storms and showers with the potential for rainfall amounts at times up to 2 inches per hour
Today’s rainfall as measured in LaCanada/Flintridge was approximately 0.72 inches today

All debris basins are draining and all inlet structures are being monitored 24/7 and cleared as necessary
Crews from the Department of Public Works will continue to work to clear the mud and debris from the basins and inlet structures through the weekend, or as long as necessary

While there are evacuation orders in place for La Crescenta, LaCanada/Flintridge and Acton, there are none in effect for Altadena except the Millard Canyon Campground
There is still a possibility of additional rainfall on Saturday
There are no further road closures for Altadena, except the one in place at the Chaney Trail gate

The news for today was better than all of the agencies planned and prepared for.

We owe our thanks to Supervisor Antonovich and his staff for making sure that information is being made available to all of us and for making sure that the communication and sharing of information among agencies is working well, and we owe all of the agencies our thanks for being ahead of the incident and for keeping us all safe.

Updated information on the status of the debris basins should be updated around 8 am tomorrow by the Department of Public Works.  You can find that information at www.dpwcare.org.