Los Angeles Daily Local Briefing

Storms Leave LA Cleaning Up And Staying Alert

Los Angeles is still dealing with the fallout from a powerful series of winter storms that drenched the region this week. Officials report flooded streets across the Westside, debris flows that forced closures on mountain roads, and toppled trees after strong winds swept through the city.

While the heaviest rain has passed, forecasters say additional showers and isolated thunderstorms remain possible, keeping a risk of localized flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas. Mountain communities are also seeing significant snow, complicating travel.

City leaders are urging residents to avoid driving through standing water, to watch for downed branches and saturated hillsides, and to check local alerts before commuting. The week’s storms are part of an unusually intense winter pattern that has slammed much of California.

Evacuation Warnings And Burn-Scar Concerns

Recent wildfire burn areas around the Palisades, Hurst and Sunset zones remain a central focus for emergency planners. Based on debris-flow forecasts, the Los Angeles Fire Department extended an evacuation warning earlier this week for several burn-scar neighborhoods, advising residents to be ready to leave quickly if conditions worsen.

Authorities say saturated slopes above these communities could still send mud and rocks downslope if another round of heavy rain hits. Residents are encouraged to keep go-bags packed, monitor official channels, and move cars off steep or narrow streets where flows could occur.

Along the coast, high surf advisories continue to impact beaches in Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles, with officials asking people to stay clear of the water during peak surf and strong rip currents.

Mayor Bass Turns Up Pressure On LA28 Leader

Beyond the weather, City Hall is buzzing over the future of leadership for the 2028 Olympic Games. Mayor Karen Bass has now publicly said that LA28 chair Casey Wasserman should step down, breaking with the Olympic organizing committee’s board, which recently backed him to stay on.

The mayor described his resignation as the best outcome for the city and the Games, even while acknowledging she has no direct authority over the private organizing committee. Her comments follow mounting criticism of Wasserman’s past associations and concerns from some local officials that controversy could distract from preparing the city for 2028.

The disagreement sets up a rare public split between the city’s top elected leader and the Olympic organizers at a time when Los Angeles is counting on the Games to showcase major investments in infrastructure and housing.