An atmospheric river was set to begin pummeling much of California with heavy rain and snow Thursday, prompting evacuations and school closures as officials warned about life-threatening flooding and mudslides in areas charred by the wildfires that broke out across the region last month.

Hillsides along Pacific Coast Highway have been covered with plastic in anticipation of heavy rain on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Officials warn that mudslides and flooding may occur over the next several days in the fire-burn areas. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

As Los Angeles braces for its most powerful storm of the season, concerns of mudslides and debris flows in recently fire-hit areas have prompted evacuation warnings.

For the second time this year, Southern Californians are evacuating their homes as heavy rain threatens new destruction in places still recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires.

With heavy rain bringing the risk of dangerous debris flows, the Los Angeles Fire Department has announced evacuation warnings — and mandatory evacuation orders for some specific addresses — in areas recently burned by wildfires.