Pacific Coast Highway, Grapevine closed as rain and snow douse Southern California
LOS ANGELES — A storm over Southern California dumped rain and snow on the area Monday, heightening the threat of mud and debris flows in areas scarred by recent wildfires, and closing a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway.
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for western Los Angeles County and Ventura County, warning that roads, streams and highways could pool with rain as showers are expected through the week.
As rain pelted the state Monday, officials began to close roads that were too dangerous for traffic.
Snow on the 5 Freeway shut down all lanes of the road in both directions for five miles near the Grapevine, the California Department of Transportation said. Weather service officials warned that heavy winds and snow could make the freeway “treacherous at times with blowing snow and icy conditions” through Tuesday morning. Caltrans said several vehicles were stuck on the freeway and tow trucks were being brought in.
A 12-mile stretch of Highway 1 also was closed in Big Sur between Mud Creek Road and Paul’s Slide, according to Caltrans.
One lane of westbound PCH was closed around 7:30 a.m. just south of Leo Carrillo State Beach because of a mudslide, the agency reported. Officials said crews were working to clear the right lane and were unsure how long the road would be blocked.
Three and a half hours later, a river of mud closed all lanes of the coastal highway from Trancas Canyon Road and Broad Beach Road in Malibu to Las Posas Road in Ventura County.
Earlier this month, a shallow mudslide covered a stretch of PCH in Malibu and trapped some cars.
The hillsides along PCH were charred by the Woolsey fire earlier this year. L.A. County officials urged residents to be ready to flee if they lived in areas burned by the blaze, which destroyed more than 1,500 structures from Oak Park to Malibu in November.
“We strongly encourage residents who live in or near Woolsey fire burn areas to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” Los Angeles County sheriff ’s Capt. Darren Harris said in a statement. “If you feel unsafe or think that hazardous conditions near your home may develop, do not hesitate to leave.”
Though Kanan Road between Agoura Hills at the 101 Freeway and PCH in Malibu remained open, the torrential rain sent rocks the size of cantaloupes down the burned hillsides, forcing drivers to dodge them.