Wildfire Burn Scars Could Mean Flooding and Mudslides in California

Rain is finally falling across the parched landscape of Southern California. While this is certainly good news for firefighters still trying to fully contain the fires burning in the Los Angeles area and beyond, the rain may create another set of problems. Here is a look at how the recently created burn scars may pose a danger to the area.

Rain Will Present New Challenges in Southern California

The change in the weather pattern is welcome news for those in Southern California. Significant rain is expected to fall through the weekend, lending a hand to fire crews. However, the rain will come at a cost, potentially setting off another life-threatening hazard.

Burn scars are a common occurrence in areas that have been burned by wildfires. These swaths of charred earth lack healthy vegetation as a result of the recent flames. The lack of vegetation can support the development of flooding once the rain begins to fall.

There have been about 50,000 acres burned over the last few weeks in Southern California. While it has been exceedingly dry during this time period, the incoming rain will fall over the recent burn scars and raise the threat of flooding and mudslides.