LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rain fell on parts of Southern California on Sunday and the scattered showers were expected to continue overnight, boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires. Flood watches were in effect through 4 p.m.
Monday for burn areas from recent fires that broke out around the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, Altadena and Castaic Lake, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “All these fresh burns are very susceptible to rapid runoff,” Sirard said, warning of even small amounts of rain in a few minutes' time. “What that means is we have a fairly high danger of mud and debris flows once we get above those thresholds.
” A flood advisory was issued for parts of Ventura County through Sunday evening, and forecasters expected snow to fall in the mountains. One benefit that could come from the rain: It may help firefighters who are reining in multiple wildfires after weeks of windy and dry weather. Los Angeles County crews spent much of the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires , which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds on Jan.
7. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 11 people, reached 90% containment Sunday. The Eaton Fire, which broke out near Altadena and has killed at .
