PHOTOS: California flooding, mudslides wash over 101 Freeway, I-5

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

January 9,2016; 9:20PM,EST

 

 

It has been a stormy week across California with several El Niño-enhanced storms slamming the state, resulting in widespread flooding and road closures.
Southern California has been one of the areas hit the hardest by the train of storms with inches of rain falling in the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Diego.

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"Drainage systems have been unable to handle the deluge, forcing partial closures of roads and major interstates, including Interstate 5," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
"Mudslides, evacuations, power outages and even a couple of weak, short-lived tornadoes have also been reported over the past few days," Duff added.
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The weakened, scorched earth left behind after an active wildfire season in California has turned into a major issue across the state, making areas near the burn scars more susceptible to mudslides and debris flows.
The 101 Freeway in Ventura County was one of these areas as mud spewed across the highway from the burn scar left behind by last month's Solimar Fire.
The southbound lane is open for traffic, but for a period of time on Thursday, the northbound lane was closed due the mud flow.
Rain and mud flowing across the 101 Freeway on Wednesday. (Twitter Photo/@KEYTNC3Senerey)

Mudslides dump onto California highway

Many other roads were closed across southern California as well due to the flooding, including Interstate 5 just north of Los Angeles.
Flooding and debris flows will begin to subside heading into the weekend as the heavy rain departs California, but additional rounds of lighter rain may continue to track across northern California into next week.
Clogged drains caused feet of water to pond on part of interstate 5 in Lankershim, Calif. (Twitter Photo/@Luevano1)

Flooding shuts down multiple lanes of interstate 5 in California

A mud flow skirts a house protected with sandbags in Monrovia, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. A wildfire two years ago stripped away vegetation and loosened soil. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Mud and debris flow down hillsides burned in a recent brush fire after heavy rain from the first in a series of El Nino storms that passed over the area above Solimar Beach in Ventura, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Joel Angel Juárez)
Crews work on southbound Highway 101 lanes in heavy rain below #SolimarFire burn area Wednesday morning. (Twitter Photo/@GretchenWenner).
Severe flooding was reported near Fashion Valley Mall and Highway 163 in San Diego. (Photo/NWS San Diego)