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Rains wreak havoc on already soaked Southern California

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Rains wreak havoc on already soaked Southern California

The latest atmospheric-river storm pummeling an already soaked Southern California wreaked havoc across the region, prompting landslide concerns, worsening dangerous potholes and even forcing an airport to close due to flooding.  

According to the National Weather Service, the storm has so far delivered the most rain to southern Santa Barbara County where the airport was closed due to as much as 10 inches of rain falling by noon and covering runways with water.  

“[Santa Barbara Airport] remains closed until further notice,” officials said on X, formerly Twitter. “The airfield experienced significant flooding and water is not expected to recede enough to open for the remainder of today. Next update will be at 2 a.m. Please continue checking directly with your airline for flight status.”  

Flooding seen at the Santa Barbara Airport on Feb. 19, 2024, that prompted it’s closing. (Max Rosenberg)

Locally, Bel Air received nearly 3 inches of rain, followed by Leo Carrillo with 2.37 inches and Beverly Hills seeing 2.19 inches. Porter Ranch residents got nearly 3 inches, followed by nearly 2 inches in Woodland Hills.  

Downtown L.A. was hit with a little more than an inch of rainfall. 

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In the San Fernando Valley, drivers dealt with potholes worsened by the recent rains.  

“You can’t really see them, and they come out of nowhere,” Valley resident Elijah Siegal told KTLA. “You hit this large bump and then you go, ‘Oh, no. Is my car screwed up?’” 

On the northbound 405 at the Skirball Center offramp, crews were dealing with a sink hole, Caltrans saying the ramp will remain closed indefinitely.  

Sinkhole forms on Skirball Center offramp
A sinkhole seen at the Skirball Center offramp on the northbound 405 that has closed the ramp indefinitely. (KTLA)

“We have roads that flooded out, roads that are completely shut down and that we have to close because they’re covered in mud,” Allison Colburn with Caltrans said. “We only have so many people available to address these things at once.  

In Hacienda Heights, residents are hoping sandbags hunkered on top of tarp covered hillsides will withstand the additional rains. Just two weeks ago, heavy rain caused mudslides that crashed through walls and damaged structures.  

Hillside collapse prompts evacuations, rescues in Hacienda Heights
Damage from mud and debris flow seen at a home in Hacienda Heights on Feb. 6, 2024. (O.C. Hawk)

While the storm is now pointed at Orange County, NWS forecasts L.A. County valleys and coasts will receive another one-third to two-thirds of an inch of rain overnight. Foothills and coastal slopes could see another two-thirds of an inch to 1.25 inches.  

Los Angeles County remains under a flood advisory until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.  

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Snow levels are expected to remain at 8,000 feet and higher through the evening but may come down to an elevation of 7,000 feet by Tuesday, NWS said. On Tuesday night, residents at 6,000 feet could start to see snowfall.  

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Los Angeles, Ca

California primary election results: governor and L.A. mayor races

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California primary election results: governor and L.A. mayor races

With a little more than half of the vote counted, Republican Steve Hilton opened a one-point lead over Democrat Xavier Becerra in California’s governor’s race Wednesday morning, 27% to 25%, respectively. Democrat Tom Steyer was in third with 20%, raising the strong likelihood that Hilton and Becerra will advance to November’s runoff. Meanwhile, Los Angeles […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

L.A. police in pursuit of suspected car thief

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L.A. police in pursuit of suspected car thief

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are in pursuit of a person behind the wheel of a vehicle that has been reported stolen. Preliminary, though unconfirmed, details suggest the suspect stole the vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai, in downtown L.A., near the intersection of 7th and Figueroa streets. The suspect is believed to have struck […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

2 women killed after being struck by BMW in Orange County intersection

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2 women killed after being struck by BMW in Orange County intersection

An investigation is underway after two women were struck and killed by a driver in Orange County on Monday night. Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls around 9 p.m. reporting that a BMW had hit two pedestrians at the intersection of Magnolia and Cerritos avenues in Stanton, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed. When deputies […]

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