California has been hit with a double dose of extreme weather, as Interstate 5, a key highway linking Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley, faced yet another closure—this time due to heavy snowfall. Just days after a massive wildfire shut it down, the freeway was once again blocked, leaving drivers stranded and officials scrambling.
On Monday morning, both directions of I-5 were shut down near Castaic, an area already dealing with the aftermath of the Hughes Fire. Known as “The Grapevine,” this stretch of road is infamous for dangerous driving conditions in winter storms. By late morning, the northbound lanes reopened, but authorities had no estimate for when southbound traffic could resume. Forecasters predicted up to a foot of snow in the region, making travel even more hazardous.
Meanwhile, firefighters battling Southern California’s wildfires got some relief as rain moved in over the weekend. The Hughes Fire, which erupted last Wednesday and burned more than 10,000 acres, was 95% contained by Monday morning. Strong Santa Ana winds had fueled its rapid spread, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate, with another 20,000 on standby. Thankfully, fire crews managed to keep the flames from reaching homes.
But the rain brought new dangers. In Malibu, where the Palisades Fire had destroyed homes and businesses earlier this month, flash floods became a major concern. Pacific Coast Highway had to be closed Sunday evening due to mudslides, and several other roads in fire-damaged areas, including Sunset Boulevard, were also shut down.
Since Sunday, parts of Los Angeles County recorded over an inch of rain, with Santa Monica and Ventura County also seeing significant downpours. More rain was expected through Tuesday, which could help slow the remaining fires but also increase the risk of mudslides in burn-scarred areas.
Fire crews continued working to contain three other major wildfires still active in Southern California. The Palisades Fire, which had burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed nearly 7,000 structures since January 7, was 94% contained. The Eaton Fire in Pasadena and Altadena, which caused even more devastation—burning over 14,000 acres, leveling 9,400 structures, and killing 17 people—was nearly out at 98% containment.
Further south, the Border 2 Fire near San Diego and the Mexico border remained a challenge. After igniting on Thursday, it had burned more than 6,600 acres and was only 43% contained as of Monday morning. Fire officials credited the rain with significantly slowing the flames but warned that the fire risk wasn’t completely gone.
While California’s long-awaited rainfall was a welcome sight, it came with a complicated mix of relief and new threats. With wildfires still burning, snow shutting down roads, and mudslides in vulnerable areas, residents across the state are bracing for whatever Mother Nature throws at them next.
