LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Residents across the Southland were drying out today from three powerful storms over four days that dumped more than eight inches of rain in parts of Southern California, causing mud and debris flows and road closures.
The storms dumped 8.47 inches of rain at San Gabriel Dam, north of Azusa, 6.21 inches at Getty Center, 5.57 inches in Beverly Hills, 3.63 inches in Malibu, 3.44 inches in downtown Los Angeles and just over 3 inches at Los Angeles International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.
In Orange County more than 5 inches of rain fell in Huntington Beach, 4 inches in Anaheim, 3.12 inches in Fullerton and 2.62 inches at John Wayne Airport, the NWS said.
In Boyle Heights, flooding in a tunnel closed the northbound 101 Freeway at the I-10/Seventh Street interchange, and traffic was being diverted onto the eastbound 10 Freeway. The freeway reopened Thursday evening.
In Malibu, both directions of Malibu Canyon Road remained shut down Friday between Mulholland Highway and Civic Center Way due to rock slides, as well as all lanes of Highway 27 between Pacific Coast Highway and Fernwood Pacific Drive because of mud on the roadway.
In the Hollywood Hills, 21 homes were evacuated as a precaution after soil movement was detected near a home under construction in the 1800 block of North Stanley Avenue. Authorities determined Thursday afternoon that residents could return.
Four homes, two on Stanley Avenue and two on Courtney Terrace, were yellow-tagged, with access to their back yards restricted. A closure was lifted on Nichols Canyon Road, where some homes on the west side of the street north of Courtney Avenue had been evacuated, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
All evacuation orders that had been in place in the Woolsey Fire burn area due to this week's storms were lifted Thursday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County officials. Residents returning to their homes were being advised to beware of the potential for falling rocks and mud/debris flows.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District said its schools in Malibu will be open Friday after being closed for three days due to the storm. Some concerns remain due to closures of Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon roads and if any of the schools end up being closed the district will notify parents via social media and the district website by 6 a.m.
Heavy rainfall forced the closure of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia and Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park Thursday. Disneyland Park and California Adventure in Anaheim remained open Thursday, as did Universal Studios.
Rain has moved out of the area, but dangerous weather conditions remain.
Along the coast, an extended period of high surf is expected through 9 p.m. today, the NWS said. Breaking waves of 10-15 feet will pound the shore this morning, according to an NWS statement.
Amid the high surf, “there is an increased risk for ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore,” warned an NWS statement. Moderate coastal flooding is possible over low-lying coastal areas including beaches, beach parking lots and harbor walkways, and with vulnerable coastal roadways during the highest surf and tides.”
The Los Angeles County Health Officer is urging swimmers and surfers to steer clear of water near storm drains for a few days, which are flushed out by rain and can contain hazards that can make them ill.
The beach water use advisory was in effect until at least 7 a.m. Monday.
“Avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters around discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers,” Dr. Muntu Davis said. “Bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are likely to contaminate ocean waters in and around these outlets after a rainfall.”
For updated beach conditions, call the county's 24-hour hotline at (800) 525-5662 or visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach/.
The NWS forecast a mix of partly cloudy and sunny days over the next several days in both Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in L.A. County today and highs of 58 degrees on Mount Wilson; 59 in Palmdale; 60 in Lancaster; 63 in San Gabriel and Avalon; 64 in Long Beach and at LAX; 65 in Pasadena, Burbank and Saugus; 66 in Downtown L.A.; and 69 in Woodland Hills. Temperatures will increase around 10 degrees amid sunny skies Saturday, then decrease by 3 to 7 degrees Sunday, turn partly cloudy Monday before the sun returns Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Partly cloudy skies were also forecast in Orange County today, along with highs of 53 on Santiago Peak; 59 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 60 in Fremont Canyon; 61 in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 62 in Yorba Linda; 63 in Trabuco Canyon and Newport Beach; 64 in Mission Viejo; 65 in Anaheim; 66 in Irvine; and 67 in Fullerton. Temperatures will increase by more than 10 degrees in some communities Saturday, when at least six days of sunny skies will begin.
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