A powerful storm that swept through Southern California has left a section of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) buried under mudslides, effectively closing the vital roadway between Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Caltrans District 7 announced a "HARD CLOSURE" of the PCH from Chautauqua Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace due to the heavy flooding and mudslides, making the stretch accessible only to emergency workers, as seen on a social media post by the agency.

Heavy rains, which brought roughly two inches of rain to the region and caused severe flooding and debris flows, especially in areas recently scorched by wildfires, dramatically increased the risks of mudslides. A video obtained by KTLA showed bulldozers working through the night in an attempt to clear the inundated highway. In spite of some light showers expected to continue, a warmer and drier weekend is forecasted, providing a small window of relief to the overwhelmed region.

As stated by the National Weather Service, "mud and rock slides can still happen well after the rain has ended," emphasizing the lingering dangers even as flood alerts were lifted Thursday evening in Los Angeles. Affected areas are still under evacuation orders and warnings through Friday afternoon, as reported by NBC News, including regions with significant damage from recent fires such as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire burn scars.

The storm's intense deluge not only led to road closures but also resulted in dramatic rescues. According to NBC News, a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle was swept into Malibu waters—a harrowing moment captured on video, with the firefighter inside escaping with minor injuries. Meanwhile, homes and cars in other parts of Los Angeles were buried in mud, with streets submerged and commercial properties flooded. This marked the strongest storm of the season, contributing to the extensive 48-hour rainfall totals that overwhelmed local infrastructure and emergency services.

Recovery and clean-up efforts continue as bulldozers and crews work diligently to clear the debris and restore access to these crucial roads. Meanwhile, Malibu has taken preemptive measures by closing its schools until conditions improve. With the rain subsiding, attention now turns to the daunting task of navigating the aftermath of California's strongest storm of the season, as well as ensuring the safety of the 4 million people across the state who had found themselves under flood watches as of Friday morning.