Powerful Atmospheric River Storm to Drench Southern California This Weekend

According to forecasters, Southern California is bracing for a severe weather threat this Saturday, as a powerful atmospheric river storm is expected to peak over the weekend. The storm could bring heavy rain, with the potential for mudflows, debris flows, and even tornadoes.

If the rain falls as predicted, downtown Los Angeles could see its wettest November since 1985. The heavy rainfall raises the possibility of damaging flooding and landslides, particularly in areas near recent fire scars. Evacuation warnings have been issued for regions near the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Sunset, and Hurst fires that burned in January.

Meteorologists are uncertain exactly which areas will be hit hardest by the storm, as the band of most intense rainfall is expected to be relatively narrow. However, if the storm's peak rainfall aligns with Los Angeles County, the region could see rates of up to 1 inch per hour, which is enough to trigger landslides.

In addition to the flooding and mudflow risks, the storm also carries the potential for spinning thunderstorms that could produce damaging winds or even a tornado or two, though forecasters say such conditions are unlikely to affect the majority of the region.