Hazardous storm leads to mass evacuation

On Monday (09 January 2023), a strong winter storm barreled into Southern California, forcing the mass evacuation of Montecito and nearby areas.

A 5-year-old boy who was swept away by flood waters and a driver who entered a flooded street both perished in San Luis Obispo County as a result of the torrential rain that devastated the coastal regions north of Los Angeles, causing floods, road closures, and fatalities.

Several inches of rain fell in some places as a result of the storm, which was forecast to continue over Los Angeles, Orange, and other southern counties through Tuesday (10 January 2023). People are advised to remain indoors and take precautionary measures.