Evacuation warnings issued in Inland Empire due to flash flood concerns
An evacuation warning was issued Wednesday afternoon for communities in northeast Yucaipa, Oak Glen and Mountain Home Village due to the possibility of flash floods from a heavy storm moving into Southern California.
Evacuations were also in effect for Cherry Valley and Beaumont in Riverside County.
A winter storm watch is in effect until Friday at 3 p.m. as a new storm system could bring 2-4 inches of rain to some communities and more than 10 inches of snow to the mountains.
Fire officials said recent burn areas are at a higher risk for flooding and advised residents to be prepared.
If the recent burn areas in Southern California receive the rainfall amount predicted, there is a potential for flooding, as well as mud and debris flows and a strong possibility of mudslides, according to San Bernardino County Fire.
Multiple signs have been posted along Oak Glen Road in Oak Glen, warning residents about possible trouble if the storm is as strong as expected.
"Some of those areas are the ones you see behind us here above the north bench is an area of grave concern," said Cal Fire Captain Bennet Miloy
He said while all of the snow at lower elevations would typically be a good thing, dangerous conditions could arise if snow-capped foothills are pounded with heavy rain.
In Riverside County, officials were also anticipating flash floods when the storm reaches the region, but it wasn't certain which areas would experience flooding.
"We had a couple of rain events but they've been fairly minor rain events. This is the first one that's really going to hit the thresholds, and that's really where the theories on what the burn scar potential could do are going to be tested," said Shane Reichardt with Riverside County Emergency Management.
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