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Live updates: Evacuations ordered, roads closed in California as flooding rain arrives

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer
By Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer
By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather staff writer
By Faith Eherts, AccuWeather meteorologist
November 29, 2018, 8:31:05 PM EST


This story is no longer bring updated as of 5:00 p.m. PST Thursday. For the latest reports on the flooding and mudslides in California, click here.

Heavy rain and mountain snow is spreading across California and will bring the risk of flooding, mudslides and travel delays into Friday.

Measurable rain is expected in the state’s largest cities, including in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento.

Mandatory evacuations have already been issued for people living near the Holy Fire burn scar due to the potential for flooding and mudslides, while those in Malibu near the Woolsey Fire burn scar have been put on alert for potential evacuation.

Image via Daniel Dreifuss/AP

Debris from the Jan. 9 mudslide sits on the side of the Montecito Creek as it flows Thursday, March 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss)

Image via Twitter/Caltrans District 8

Major debris flow and rocks have closed State Route 38 in both directions from Valley of the Falls Dr. to Lake Williams Dr.

Image via Twitter/@LASDHQ

Officials have enacted multiple resources such as search and rescue teams and swift water response equipment in case of mudslides or flash floods.

Image via Twitter/@LASDHQ

Officials have enacted multiple resources such as search and rescue teams and swift water response equipment in case of mudslides or flash floods.

Image via Twitter/@LASDHQ

Officials are monitoring the heavy rain.

(Photo/Bartshe Miller)

Heavy snow falling near Mono Lake, California.

Image via Twitter/San Jose Fire Dept.

The Alameda was closed both directions in Stockton due to flooding under the railroad crossing.

<i>A bulldozer clearing debris from Highway 140 in California. (Photo: Caltrans District 10)</i>

Image via Twitter/Caltrans District 8

Major debris flow and rocks have closed State Route 38 in both directions from Valley of the Falls Dr. to Lake Williams Dr.

Eric Risberg/AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, rain showers begin to diminish at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Forecasters say California will see widespread rain and heavy Sierra Nevada snowfall starting late Wednesday that could create travel problems and unleash damaging runoff from wildfire burn scars. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

A scoop clears debris from a mudslide that partially blocked Honey Run Road, Thursday, Nov. 29, near Chico, Calif. Flash flooding hit Chico and nearby wildfire-scarred Paradise, forcing officials to deploy swift water rescue teams to save people stuck in vehicles and rescue them from homes.

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Butte County road worker Matt Brandt clears a drain pump of debris from a mudslide that partially blocked Honey Run Road, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, near Chico, Calif.

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Mud and debris has washed down normally-dry Solstice Creek in an area burned by the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Vehicles pass each other on a flooded street Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Chico, Calif. Flash flooding hit Chico and nearby wildfire-scarred Paradise causing flooding and mudslides.

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Mud and debris has flowed onto Kanan-Dume Road in an area burned by the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Calif. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A man surfs near Fort Point in front of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Netting and straw wattle covers a hillside along Pacific Coast Highway in an area burned by the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018.


"Donner Pass could be measuring snow in feet by Friday morning, and it’s not out of the question that the pass would need to be shut down for a time Thursday into Thursday night, when the bulk of the snow is expected to fall there," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.

Download the free AccuWeather app to know when the rain will begin and to stay up to date on the latest forecast.

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4:20 p.m. PST Thursday:

Some residents near the Camp Fire burn scar are being asked to shelter in place due to flooding. People taking shelter should avoid the lowest areas of the building.


3:25 p.m. PST Thursday:

A mudslide has closed part of State Route 140 near where the Ferguson Fire burned earlier this year. This includes part of the road that extends into Yosemite National Park.

“There were three or four mudslides overnight, as well as at least one temporarily plugged culvert (drain),” Caltrans said on Thursday.

“The SR-140 closure -- which begins near Midpines at Bear Creek and continues up to Foresta Road in El Portal -- has no estimated time of opening. That is mudslide impact- and weather-dependent,” Caltrans added.

This is just one of many roads across the state that have been closed due to mudslides and debris flows.

DtMTF1HVYAAsFnW.jpg

A bulldozer clearing debris from Highway 140 in California. (Photo: Caltrans District 10)


2:24 p.m. PST Thursday:

A Flash Flood Warning has been issued that includes Chico, Paradise and Magalia, California until 9:15 p.m. PST.


1:06 p.m. PST Thursday:

Major debris flow and rocks have closed State Route 38 in both directions from Valley of the Falls Dr. to Lake Williams Dr. Officials advise motorists to avoid any unnecessary travel.


12:00 p.m. PST Thursday:

There is a Flood Warning in effect and a Mandatory Evacuation Order for residents near Trabuco Creek.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for east central Orange County, indicating flash flooding may begin shortly with a potential for mud and debris flow in the Holy Fire burn area in Trabuco Canyon.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has issued an immediate mandatory evacuation order for residents of Trabuco Creek. Residents of Rose Canyon are under voluntary evacuation warning.

Hard road closures are in effect at Trabuco Canyon at Rose Canyon and Trabuco Canyon Road at Robinson Ranch Road.

11:53 a.m. PST Thursday:

A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for the Camp Fire burn scar area until 3:00 p.m. PST. Flash flooding with debris flows are to be expected in the next few hours.


11:46 a.m. PST Thursday:

Major debris flow and flooding has forced Orange County officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders for those in the area of Trabuco Creek. The videos below shows flooding in the Holy Fire burn area.

Road closures are in place on Trabuco Canyon Road at Rose Canyon and Robinson Ranch Road.


Debris flow has also started in Rice Canyon in Lake Elsinore, California and Glen Ivy Road in Corona, California.


11:15 a.m. PST Thursday:

Heavy rain that has sparked Flash Flood Warnings in burn scar areas is making its way to Orange County. Officials are advising people not to drive through flooded areas.


9:06 a.m. PST Thursday:

There is a Flash Flood Warning including Riverside County, California until 12:00 p.m. PST.


8:44 a.m. PST Thursday:

Officials are monitoring the heavy rain and have enacted multiple resources such as search and rescue teams and swift water response equipment in case of mudslides or flash floods.


7:58 a.m. PST Thursday:

Pepperdine University announced that it was canceling classes on Thursday due to the road conditions in the area.


A jackknifed tractor trailer caused all lanes to be closed on California State Route 118 within the last hour.

7:33 a.m. PST Thursday:

A mudslide was reported in Oakland along Highway 13 in Oakland. Another mudslide was reported on Interstate 5 northbound near Sacramento.


5:42 a.m. PST Thursday:

Motorists in both Southern and Northern California may face travel delays due to heavy rain moving into the state. A flood advisory has been issued for the areas near where the Hill and Woolsey fires burned. Rockslides are possible.


Showers moving into the Bay Area will cause a wet morning commute.

3:10 a.m. PST Thursday:

Commuters should double check their route before heading to work this morning as portions of many roads have been closed due to flooding, particularly in urban areas.


Power outages are affecting 30 percent of customers across Butte County in the Central Valley, which includes Paradise and the Camp Fire burn scar area.

1:00 a.m. PST Thursday:

Just across the Bay from San Francisco in Marin County, California, strong winds caused a large tree to fall onto a pickup truck. No injuries were reported.

Nearby to the north, flooding has been reported in Sonoma.

11: 45 p.m. PST Wednesday

While rain showers are just starting to move into the Los Angeles area, heavy rain has been inundating areas farther north for several hours.

In Santa Cruz County, debris flows have overtaken portions of roadways in Scotts Valley. Flooding in San Francisco and Daly City has flooded roads with as much as 2 feet of water.

In addition to the pounding rain, residents are also being kept awake by strong winds in the Bay Area. Winds gusts have frequently been reaching 45 mph.

Dozens of flights out of San Francisco area airports have been delayed, and delays are also starting to mount up at LAX.

5:30 p.m. PST Wednesday

California officials are monitoring the approaching rain and advise residents to be cautious.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for areas near the Holy Fire burn scar, while those in Malibu near the Woolsey Fire burn scar have been warned that evacuations may be ordered due to the potential for flooding and mudslides.


6:00 a.m. PST Wednesday

The US Geological Surveymaps below depict the likelihood of debris-flow generation and estimates of flow magnitude in locations where debris flows initiate.


7:30 p.m. PST Tuesday:

Road closures have already begun in parts of California ahead of the major winter storm, including a stretch of Highway 1 near Big Sur. A 12-mile stretch of the road will be closed for at least two days between Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide due to the potential for washouts and mudslides, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Heavy snow will also make travel through mountain passes in the Sierras, such as Donner Pass along Interstate 80.

While the unsettled weather will disrupt travel, it will help wildfire efforts across the state.

“This is good news to help minimize that fire activity,” Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said on Tuesday.

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