Southern California Braces for Strongest Storm of the Week, With Evacuations Planned Amid Rare ‘High Risk’ of Flooding

A powerful atmospheric river storm is preparing to hit Southern California with torrential rainfall and dangerous winds, representing the most severe in a series of storms targeting the region this week. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a rare Level 4 "high" flooding risk for over 6 million residents across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, with rainfall potentially reaching 4-8 inches in valleys and up to 12 inches in mountains—equivalent to several months' worth of precipitation in just days. Particularly concerning are areas scarred by January's devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, where burned ground cannot absorb water and creates heightened risks for deadly debris flows and mudslides.