Active Landslides Shut Down Topanga Canyon, Parts Of Malibu As Heavy Rain, More Mudslides Are Forecast For Weekend
Four days after the last rain in Los Angeles, Topanga Canyon Boulevard remains closed from Grand View to PCH and two sections of PCH in Malibu are cordoned down to one lane due to continuing, active landslides.
“The City Public Works Department is constant communication with Caltrans on the closures due to landslides that have been impacting Malibu as Caltrans engineers continue to assess the safety and stability of the slopes and the roadway at the landslide sites in Topanga Canyon and on PCH,” reads a release from the city.
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🚧TOPANGA SLIDE UPDATE 3/26🚧 SR-27 landslide still moving and is too dangerous to clear. Unknown duration. Caltrans is developing a topographic map for planning safest way for removing. Vehicle on right of aerial pic indicates size of slide. More rain this wkend is a concern. pic.twitter.com/l2vdN2YOKP
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) March 26, 2024
Caltrans, for its part, says the Topanga closure will remain for an “unknown duration” due to a “tension crack high on [a] steep unstable hillside” compounding concerns over the actively sliding segment and expected rain this weekend.
⚠️TOPANGA SLIDE UPDATE 3/27⚠️ Video shows just portion + size of boulders from SR-27 landslide. Tension crack high on steep unstable hillside and expected wkend rain raises concerns. Closure from Grand View to PCH. Unknown duration. Check https://t.co/cxZ0jW7kfP for conditions. pic.twitter.com/S0nDO2bfu4
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) March 27, 2024
It’s one of more than half-a-dozen roads that are either fully or partially closed in the greater Malibu area, including PCH at Porto Marina Way in the Palisades, PCH at the ongoing active landslide just south of Big Rock Drive, a large stretch of Cold Canyon Road closed due to a mud slide, ditto Mullholland from PCH to Little Sycamore Canyon Road and also near Brewster Road and a number of other closures in the Corral and Topanga Canyon areas.
While that may seem like inconvenience enough, the National Weather Service today warned it is anticipating mudslides, highway erosion, rockslides on canyon roads and high creek flows from a pari of storms set to hit the region Friday through Monday.
Here are some of the impacts we are anticipating this weekend. The good news for Sunday is, it likely won't rain all day, but it's hard to tell when the breaks will occur and there's a slight chance of thunderstorms. Plan ahead and make sure you can get inside quickly! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/uO51V5Jr7q
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 27, 2024
The latest forecast from NWS L.A. sees rainfall totals from 1.5-2.5 inches from the deluge and 3-5 inches in the foothills and mountains.
The NWS also added that there is a “low but present risk of severe storms with hail, strong wind [and a] brief tornado.” Ot estimated a “10-20% chance of thunderstorms.”
Here is the updated storm total rain graphic for the weekend storm. There is now a lower risk of heavier amounts & expected totals were trimmed back by about 1/2". Also there is a chance rain could continue into Monday for Ventura/LA Counties. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/nDIBqTebbY
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 27, 2024
Steady rain is expected to begin on Friday night with showers continuing Saturday through Monday. Peak rates for most areas are forecast to be between .25-.50 inches per hour, with isolated bursts in some areas between .50 and .75 inches per hour.
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