Photo: Natalie Macquire / Moment / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Rain was tapering off across most of the Southland Monday, alleviating some of the flooding fears brought on by the wet storm system that gave the region a soaking of precipitation over the weekend and early Monday morning.
There were some reports of minor mud flows brought on by the rain, including a slide that closed Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Pacific Coast Highway. Lingering snowfall also forced the closure Monday morning of the Grapevine stretch of the Golden State (5) Freeway in northern Los Angeles and southern Kern counties.
Authorities said the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway was also being impacted by icy conditions and some snow cover.
With the rain tapering off, flood warnings that had been in place in the L.A. area were either canceled or allowed to expire by the National Weather Service, although a flood watch lingered over the Hughes Fire burn area until 10 a.m. Monday.
According to the NWS, some rainfall and snow showers were still possible Monday afternoon.
"While shower activity will trend downward, there is still a possibility of isolated showers remaining across the Los Angeles Basin into Tuesday" thanks to some "remnant moisture" from the storm system, forecasters said.
"A cold air mass will be left behind as the system slowly exits the region," according to the NWS. "Temperatures today (Monday) will be much below normal again with coastal and valley sites struggling to hit the 60 degree mark."
As of Monday, between two-tenths of a inch and 1 inch of rain was reported in the LA area with up to a half-inch more rain expected.
L.A. County and city crews had been preparing most of last week for the anticipated rain, installing K-rails and sandbags in the recent burn areas to help alleviate any debris flows or flooding.
Meanwhile, the county Department of Public Works was continuing to work on fire-debris removal efforts with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- which is handling the first-phase removal of hazardous wastes -- and the Army Corps of Engineers, which will oversee physical debris removal from the Palisades and Eaton burn areas.
As of Monday morning, the Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena areas was 98% contained after burning 14,021 acres, with repopulation efforts completed.
The Palisades Fire was 94% contained after burning 23,448 acres. Evacuation orders have been lifted in most areas, allowing residents to return to their properties. Some neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles were still under evacuation orders, but those were expected to be lifted soon.
The Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake has burned 10,425 acres since breaking out Wednesday, but it was 95% contained Monday, according to Cal Fire.
The fires have thus far claimed 28 lives -- 11 in the Palisades Fire area and 17 in the Eaton Fire.
The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner has positively identified 18 of the 28 people confirmed dead in the two wildfires. The list can be found at me.lacounty.gov/2025/press-releases/wildfire-update-18-victims- identified-by-medical- examiner/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_te rm=.
A curfew remains in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones.
The sheriff's department and other law enforcement agencies have reported dozens of arrests for alleged looting, burglaries and curfew violations since the fires in ignited in Altadena and the Palisades.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., and Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., to assist homeowners with applying for aid. A new Disaster Recovery Center opened in Altadena Monday, with daily hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be available to residents seven days a week. The new center is located at 540 W. Woodbury Road. Both the Pasadena and Altadena locations will be open through the end of January, but on Saturday, the Pasadena location will close and all services will shift to Altadena.
The causes of the Eaton and Palisades fires remain under investigation. Both erupted on Jan. 7 as the area was under a red flag warning for critical fire danger due to a historic wind event that saw gusts of 80 to 100 mph.
More than 16,000 structures were destroyed in the two fires, according to Cal Fire.
By the time all the damage is assessed, the fires are expected to constitute the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.