USGS-landslides.20060720T160202 cannon@usgs.gov 20060720T160202.000Z Actual Alert Public en-US Geo Flash Flood and Debris Flow Watch for Recently Burned Areas in Southern California Future Unknown Possible Joseph Gartner Flash Flood and Debris Flow Watch for Recently Burned Areas in Southern California At 10:20 am, Wednesday, July 19, 2006 the National Weather Service for Los Angeles and Oxnard, California issued a flash flood watch for portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. A moist tropical airmass over the region has produced the potential for thunderstorms with heavy downpours that could produce flash flooding. This threat will develop this afternoon and continue through the evening hours and this watch is in effect from 1 pm to 8 pm. The flash flood watch includes the following areas in southwest California; Antelope Valley, Cuyama Valley, Los Angeles County Mountains excluding the Santa Monica Range, San Luis Obispo County Interior Valleys, San Luis Obispo Mountains, Santa Barbara County Mountains and Ventura County Mountains. The Perkins Burn Area is a recent fire that will be particularly vulnerable to flash flooding with debris flows should thunderstorms develop over that region later in the day. Residents or persons with interests near and especially downstream of the burned areas should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take protective action should flash flood warnings be issued. For more information on what to do if you live near a recently burned area, and more information on post-fire debris flow flows: http://landslides.usgs.gov/research/wildfire. Campers, hikers and others spending time in the mountains should avoid narrow canyon areas that could flood rapidly in response to even distant thunderstorms. Keep escape routes in mind and be prepared to climb to higher ground with little or no notice. jegartner@usgs.gov Portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, and recently burned areas