24 million people under flood alerts as Los Angeles braces for month’s worth of rain in a day

Around 24 million people across California are under flood watches Friday morning as Los Angeles braces for what could be a month’s worth of rain in a day.

Concerns about heavy rain in the area — which receives an average of 0.78 inches in November — are compounded by burn scars left by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which could exacerbate flooding.

Risk zones include the Los Angeles and the San Diego metropolitan areas, where a moderate risk of flooding is in effect for Friday and Saturday for potentially life-threatening flash flooding over the burn scar areas of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

There will be two rounds of wet weather, with the first round expected to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain Friday night. The second round is expected Saturday and will be more significant, potentially bringing heavy rainfall, gusty winds, small hail and isolated tornadoes.

Rainfall rates of 1 inch per hour at times could cause debris flows, specifically from the Palisades and Eaton fire burn scars.

A widespread 2 to 6 inches of rain, with higher amounts possible in some areas, is expected through Saturday across much of Southern California.

An evacuation warning was in effect in Ventura County from Thursday to Sunday for the Mountain Fire burn area and the Matilija Canyon, North Fork and Camino Cielo communities, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Rainfall estimates in this area range from 2 to 5 inches for coasts and valleys, and 4 to 8 inches for mountains and foothills.