Rare October storm prompts LA evacuations; Santa Barbara flash‑flood warning and Sierra snow
A rare October storm swept Southern California Monday into Tuesday, prompting flash‑flood warnings in Santa Barbara County and a sheriff’s shelter‑in‑place order for wildfire‑scarred areas at risk of debris flows, while Los Angeles saw road closures, LAFD patrols and precautionary business shutdowns. Rain totals by Tuesday morning were under 0.5 inch in L.A. and about 1.5 inches in San Luis Obispo, the NWS warned the system could spawn a few tornadoes and its timing/location was unpredictable, and the Sierra Nevada could receive up to 3 feet of mountain snow with Mammoth already reporting snowfall.
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📌 Key Facts
- The National Weather Service issued a flash‑flood warning for Santa Barbara County, and the county sheriff ordered a shelter‑in‑place for wildfire‑scarred areas at risk of debris flows.
- Measured rainfall by Tuesday morning was under 0.5 inch in Los Angeles County and about 1.5 inches in San Luis Obispo County.
- The Sierra Nevada was forecast to receive up to 3 feet of mountain snow, and Mammoth Mountain reported snowfall Tuesday morning.
- NWS Los Angeles meteorologist‑in‑charge Ariel Cohen warned the system could produce a couple of tornadoes and emphasized the storm's timing and location were unpredictable.
- Local responses included Caltrans closing a section of State Route 27 at Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles Fire Department patrols Monday night, and some businesses (including Gladstones on PCH) closing in anticipation of debris flows.
📰 Sources (2)
Rare October storm brings heavy rain, flash flood warnings and possible mudslides to Southern California
New information:
- Santa Barbara County: NWS flash‑flood warning and a sheriff’s shelter‑in‑place order for a wildfire‑scarred area at risk of debris flows.
- Measured rainfall by Tuesday morning: less than 0.5 inch in Los Angeles County and about 1.5 inches in San Luis Obispo County.
- Sierra Nevada forecast of up to 3 feet of mountain snow; Mammoth Mountain confirmed snowfall Tuesday morning.
- NWS Los Angeles meteorologist‑in‑charge Ariel Cohen warned the system could produce a couple of tornadoes and stressed its timing/location unpredictability.
- Caltrans closed a section of State Route 27 at Pacific Coast Highway; LAFD began patrols Monday night; local businesses such as Gladstones (on PCH) closed in anticipation of debris flows.