A powerful brush fire drove evacuations and school closures in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Thursday. The blaze is about 20% contained, but unseasonably high heat means residents should remain vigilant.
January 30, 2021
Wintry weather to stretch coast to coast, with snow in Hawaii, mudslides in California and a major storm heading east.
SHOW TRANSCRIPT I was in the area when I noticed this section of roadway, specifically the southbound lane had fallen off towards the ocean, said California Highway Patrol officer John Yerace. This used to be a scenic part of highway one along California’s Central Coast. The roadway is now gone.
This massive crater used to be a scenic part of Highway One along California s central coast. The roadway is now gone, Yerace said.
Back-to-back winter storms have hit parts of California hard, triggering mudslides that are hitting homes and burying cars.
Storm causes mudslides in Bond, Silverado fire burn areas [The Orange County Register]
Jan. 29 An overnight downpour sent mud and rocks flowing down into roads in areas where the Bond and Silverado fires had burned in eastern Orange County. By Friday morning, the storm continued to douse the region and brought lightning along with it.
Though no injuries were reported or major damage, crews worked through the night to clear sludge that ran into streets.
Orange County Fire Authority officials warned residents to continue to be prepared for possible mudslides as the hills were still soaked.
“Even though the rain stops, there’s still a chance of mud slipping,” OCFA Capt. Paul Holaday said. “When the ground gets saturated, it’s like a sponge and after a while it can’t take any more and starts to slide.”