The wet weather will bring relief to Southern California after a prolonged period of dryness, but there’s concern that any bursts of heavy rainfall could cause flooding.
The Palisades and Eaton fires have burned nearly 40,000 acres and damaged or destroyed about 12,000 structures.
On Wednesday at 3:18 p.m. an updated air quality alert was issued valid until Thursday at 6 p.m. The alert is for Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast, Central Ventura County Valleys and Southeastern Ventura County Valleys.
San Diego scientists are collecting samples of ash from California's coast to measure how toxins and urban debris from the Los Angeles wildfires could affect nearby fisheries and the food webs of local ecosystems.
Fire has always played a crucial role in Southern California’s ecosystem, which features dry conditions and strong, hot desert winds called the Santa Anas, which blow from the east each winter. Many native plants require periodic burning to germinate,
Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as a new fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles.
NOAA Fisheries’ scientists will watch for potential effects on fisheries and marine life, including anchovy eggs abundant in waters downwind of the fires. They have collected samples both before and after the eggs were exposed to ash and other debris, for any change in their number and distribution or any effects on their early development.
The fires began on Jan. 7, 2025, what seemed like a regular Tuesday morning, fueled by historic gusts of Santa Ana winds.
Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas, but it was enough to loosen Los Angeles hillsides burned bare by the recent blaze near the Pacific Palisades.
Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items.
The rain that is expected to hit the scorched Los Angeles landscape this weekend may bring relief to the fire fights, but it could also bring flash floods and mudslides. Although forecasts show that the risk is relatively low, local officials are taking the warnings seriously.