Los Angeles faces a new round of heavy rainfall, with disaster risk continuing to rise

Southern California is experiencing a severe weather crisis. A massive storm system over the Pacific Ocean—referred to by meteorologists as an “atmospheric river”—is moving across the entire state, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall. According to the latest report from the National Weather Service, this rainfall began sweeping through California on Friday morning, with Los Angeles County and surrounding areas being the most affected.

Catastrophic Weather Triggers Multiple Risks

Los Angeles County has announced an extension of evacuation orders until 1 p.m. on Friday. Coastal areas from Oxnard to Malibu face the threat of flash floods, and the southern California coast may also experience strong winds and thunderstorms. As of Friday morning, over 50,000 homes and commercial facilities in California have lost power, mainly concentrated in Northern California.

Peak holiday travel is encountering severe weather, with widespread flooding, flight delays, and highway closures. The ongoing heavy rainfall since earlier this week has resulted in at least three fatalities.

Post-Wildfire Aftereffects Worsen Disaster Risks

The complexity of the issue lies in the fact that Los Angeles and surrounding areas experienced a major wildfire less than a year ago. The burned areas now have scorched vegetation, and the soil’s water retention and permeability are severely damaged. This means that every heavy rainfall could trigger secondary disasters such as landslides and mudslides.

Scott Klibower, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, pointed out that the soil burned by the wildfire remains hydrophobic—rainwater cannot be absorbed and instead quickly pools on the surface, similar to falling on concrete. It takes four to five years for such damaged soil to recover to normal permeability. During this period, any heavy rainfall in Los Angeles and Southern California will pose a disaster risk.

Long-term Hidden Dangers Require Vigilance

Officials have issued strict warnings regarding road safety. This disaster demonstrates that the impact of natural calamities is not one-off—scars from wildfires will continue to manifest in subsequent weather events. Until vegetation regrows and the soil fully recovers, Southern California will remain at long-term risk of secondary disasters triggered by heavy rainfall.