skip to contentAdvertisementThe National Weather Service said the rain and strong winds could cause delays at airports, rockslides, mudslides on canyon roads, flooded streets and rising river levels.By: Express Web Desk November 15, 2025 11:36 PM IST First published on: Nov 15, 2025 at 11:36 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookForecasters expect heavier and more persistent rain through the day. (File Photo)Southern California is preparing for heavier rain on Saturday after the first round of showers moved across the region on Friday, The New York Times reported.Some neighbourhoods in Los Angeles County and Ventura County were placed under evacuation orders and warnings because the storm could trigger flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas burned by recent wildfires.A meteorologist from the National Weather Service, Rich Thompson, told The New York Times: “The atmosphere is going to be juicier on Saturday.”The National Weather Service said the rain and strong winds could cause delays at airports, rockslides, mudslides on canyon roads, flooded streets and rising river levels.What to Expect on SaturdayThe storm has two phases. The first hit between Thursday night and Friday afternoon. The second phase expected to be stronger will begin late Friday and continue through Saturday.Forecasters expect heavier and more persistent rain through the day. Thunderstorms are also possible.A powerful storm with potentially record-breaking rain and dangerous mudslides is slamming Southern California. The National Weather Service says the atmospheric river will bring gusty winds, potential flooding and up to six inches of rain to the region. @AFGutierrez has the… pic.twitter.com/TAqltiuuiB— CBS Saturday Morning (@cbssaturday) November 15, 2025Another National Weather Service meteorologist, David Gomberg, told The New York Times that the storm was carrying a narrow but concentrated band of moisture from the Pacific Ocean, known as an atmospheric river.He said, “We think it will set up somewhere between San Bernardino County and Ventura County.”He added that there was still uncertainty about the storm’s exact path, but this would become clearer as the day progressed.Rainfall ForecastSanta Barbara to Los Angeles County:Coastal and valley areas: 2-4 inchesMountains: 4-8 inchesDowntown LA: 2-4 inchesThunderstorms may increase totals in some areasOrange County to San Diego County:Coastal and valley areas: 1.5-3 inchesMountains: 4-6 inchesSan Diego: around 2 inches, mainly on Saturday morning and afternoonWhy Officials Are ConcernedSouthern California’s coastal mountains are positioned in a way that forces the storm’s moisture upwards, increasing rainfall.Most ReadPark Williams, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained to The New York Times: “The moisture will hit those mountains dead on. Those mountains act as a wall, and the water slides down the mountains and then it goes into the city.”Burned areas are especially at risk because wildfire damage removes vegetation and hardens the soil. This makes it easier for fast-moving flows of mud, water and debris to develop.If the system stalls over Los Angeles County on Saturday, The New York Times said it could lead to dangerous debris flows in burn zones.AdvertisementAdvertisementLoading Taboola...