A powerful storm likely to trigger flash flooding, mud and debris flows over the next two days in some areas of the Inland Empire prompted Riverside County public safety officials to mandatory evacuation orders Wednesday for neighborhoods in Lake Elsinore and the Temescal Valley.
The locations were impacted by the Holy Fire in August.
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department had posted voluntary evacuation warnings — which are strictly advisory but urge recipients to leave — for the residential areas Tuesday, but as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the warnings were elevated to orders.
All of the affected properties front the burn scar areas from the 23,000-acre Holy Fire within the Cleveland National Forest. Residents of the following neighborhoods were ordered to leave: Amorose, Alberhill, Alvarado-A, Glen Eden, Glen Ivy-A & B, Grace, Horsethief-A & B, Laguna-A, Maitri, McVicker-A, Rice and Withrow-A.
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for Alvarado-A and Lakeside-B.
A wide area skirting the eastern boundary of the Cleveland National Forest was left exposed to potential flood damage because of the Holy Fire, which denuded steep terrain below Santiago Peak, permitting water to flow unchecked onto lower slopes where subdivisions are situated.
A care and reception center has been established at Temescal Canyon High School, 28755 El Toro Road, Lake Elsinore.
Evacuation warnings are also in effect for areas impacted by the 13,000-acre Cranston Fire in August, including the Apple Canyon, Fleming Ranch, Hurkey Creek and Strawberry Creek communities. The areas generally parallel state Routes 74 and 243 between Lake Hemet and Idyllwild, where the fire consumed large swaths of wilderness in the San Bernardino National Forest.
A care and reception center has been established at Idyllwild School, 26700 Highway 243.
The arson fire left properties exposed to mud and debris flows, during which “boulders and trees (may come) crashing down hillsides,” according to an EMD statement.
County officials urged residents to check maps at www.RivCoReady.org/StormReady to determine if they are in an evacuation area. Residents can also sign up for emergency alert notifications via the website.
The National Weather Service posted a flash flood watch for the Riverside County mountains, valleys and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning that will be in effect from late Wednesday evening through Thursday evening. A high wind warning will also be in effect in the county mountains from Wednesday afternoon through 10 p.m. Thursday. The Coachella Valley was not included in either advisory.
A massive trough of low pressure loaded with energy from the Gulf of Alaska and a disturbance farther south in the Pacific will blanket the region into Thursday night, according to the NWS.
The system will bring steady rain, with the heaviest amounts Thursday, NWS meteorologist Miguel Miller said.
The Riverside metropolitan area and Lake Elsinore are forecast to get up to four-tenths of an inch of rainfall Wednesday, while up to six-tenths of an inch is expected in the San Gorgonio Pass, and the Coachella Valley will receive around one-tenth of an inch, forecasters said. Idyllwild and Pine Cove could get up to 2 inches of precipitation.
Snow levels will remain above 9,000 feet, Miller said.
South to southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph, with gusts reaching 65 mph, are expected Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening, according to the NWS.
During a three-part storm series between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4, the EMD issued mandatory evacuation orders covering the Glen Ivy, Horsethief Canyon and McVicker Park communities on the north side of Lake Elsinore and south of El Cerrito, along Interstate 15.
Mud and debris flows prompted several street closures, but no significant damage was reported.