Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
North Central states face daily bouts of severe weather. Click here for more details Chevron right

Ashburn, VA

70°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Ashburn

Virginia

70°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Ashburn, VA Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

California burn areas may face major mud flows at midweek

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Mar 18, 2018 5:13 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:13 PM EDT

Copied

Residents in the burn areas around California are on alert for major mud flows and flooding as heavy rain returns over a large part of the state.

After a dry start to the week, a new storm will spread rounds of rain across most of California into Thursday.

Rain, mountain snow and gusty winds will also spread across the Northwest during this time, but California will face the greatest hazards to lives and property.

"Tapping a feed of tropical moisture, this storm will bring moderate to heavy rainfall across the state," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jim Andrews said.

The potential exists for 2 to 6 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, to inundate the area north of Los Angeles to Point Conception, as well as the intermediate western slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

Static Cali Storm 3 pm

"The upcoming storm could be the single biggest rainfall event at downtown Los Angeles so far this rainy season," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

"The city received around 1.75 inches back on January 8-9, and this upcoming storm could yield around 2 inches on Wednesday night into Thursday," he said.

It was during that time that the Montecito area was devastated by deadly mudslides. Residents here and in other communities around the burn areas are being put on alert for more destructive flooding rain and debris flows at midweek.

RELATED:

Why some didn’t heed evacuation warnings ahead of deadly Montecito mudslides
Photos: Death toll rises to 18 after Montecito, California, mudslides engulf hundreds of homes
Southwestern US interactive radar

"While any meaningful rain, even heavy rain, is dearly needed given the abnormally low seasonal rainfall thus far, any soakings will have the potential to trigger another round of mud flows below recent burn scars," Andrews said.

Santa Barbara County officials have already issued a Pre-Evacuation Advisory for the areas below the Thomas, Sherpa, Whittier and Alama fires.

Pre-Evacuation Advisory: The NWS indicates a storm capable of producing debris flows & flooding will arrive in SB County on Tues night. If you are in or below the burn areas, you should begin to PREPARE to evacuate. More info will be provided tomorrow & at https://t.co/YqDKvUfZIM

— SBCountyOEM (@SBCountyOEM) March 18, 2018

While the heaviest rain is expected farther to the north, urban and low-lying flash flooding can also plague Los Angeles and San Diego.

Downpours can create slow travel and hazards for motorists by reducing visibility and heightening the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.

Heavy rain and flooding issues may not be confined to the burn areas in California.

A surge of warmer air with the storm’s arrival will send snow levels in the Sierra generally above 7,000 feet. Feet of snow will bury the mountain peaks, which will be a boon for the ski resorts.

"That warming, when combined with the heavy rain, can lead to melting of snow cover from the lower slopes of the Sierra, bringing a chance of mostly minor flooding," Andrews said.

Rainfall is not expected to be as problematic in San Francisco and Sacramento, but gusty winds may impact air and road travelers.

Rain should dominate over the major passes early in the storm, Andrews said.

Travelers, including those on I-80's Donner Pass, are likely to face the return of snow-packed roads, chain restrictions and even closures later in the week.

"Cooling beginning on Thursday could drop snow levels down to near 4,000 feet along and north of I-80,” Andrews said.

Travel disruptions may not end with Thursday.

“A second storm, this one colder and farther north, will bring another bout of rain and mountain snow to mostly northern and Central California Friday and into the weekend,” Andrews said.

Snow may drop to even lower elevations in the northern Sierra, potentially to the levels seen with the storm late last week (which were around 3,000 feet).

This second storm is not expected to bring more rain to Southern California next weekend.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Wildfire smoke to limit number of days with deep blue sky this summer

Jun. 12, 2025
Weather News

More rain, temperature swings ahead for the Northeast

Jun. 14, 2025
Weather News

Children swept away among at least 49 killed in South Africa flooding

Jun. 11, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

How the Air India plane came crashing to earth

2 days ago

Severe Weather

North-central US faces daily bouts of severe weather

11 hours ago

Weather News

More rain, temperature swings ahead for the Northeast

11 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

Father’s Day forecast: West to have best weather

12 hours ago

Weather News

At least 8 dead in San Antonio after months of rain fell in hours

1 day ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Climate

If crucial ocean currents collapses, weather impact would be extreme

3 days ago

Weather News

No injuries after JetBlue plane rolls onto grass after landing

2 days ago

Astronomy

Accidental find in planetarium could shift understanding of solar syst...

3 days ago

Climate

New Zealand sued over ‘inadequate’ plan to reduce emissions

3 days ago

Weather News

New images reveal treasures aboard ‘holy grail’ shipwreck

2 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News California burn areas may face major mud flows at midweek
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...