Silverado, Bond Fire Burn Scar Flash Flood Watch In Place

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — A winter storm has triggered a flood watch for the Silverado and Bond Fire burn scar areas and beyond, the National Weather Service says.

At 4:30 pm on Thursday, following an aerial assessment of the Bond Fire burn area, it was determined that the mandatory Evacuation Order for the area of Modjeska Canyon would be downgraded to a voluntary Evacuation Warning. Silverado Canyon and Williams Canyon remain under a mandatory Evacuation Order.

Residents in Modjeska Canyon were told that as of 6 p.m. Thursday evening they could return home, but should be prepared to evacuate if ordered.

Evacuation Areas
· Silverado Canyon - Evacuation Order (MANDATORY)
· Williams Canyon - Evacuation Order (MANDATORY)
· Modjeska Canyon - Evacuation Warning (VOLUNTARY)

Road Closures
· Williams Canyon Road and Silverado Canyon Road, both at Santiago Canyon Road

Residents in the areas of Mission Viejo, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Irvine, Orange, and Santa Ana should be aware of potential flash floods and flooded streets through Friday, the NWS reported.

Heavy, sporadic rains were anticipated overnight lead to flood watches for the Santa Ana mountain areas.

"Scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms, will continue late Thursday," Alexander Tardy of the NWS says.

Thursday's lull in the rain will be followed with renewed activity around sunset, continuing into Friday, he says.

Rain rates of around or over 0.3 inches per hour could trigger more debris flows in those burn scar areas, as was seen Wednesday morning in Silverado Canyon areas.

Wednesday morning, a mudslide cascaded onto Silverado Canyon Road in Orange County, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or heavy damage.

Showers continued overnight on Thursday, and scattered showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms were in the forecast for Thursday and Thursday night.
Friday, the forecast called for partly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of showers and winds around 15 mph in the afternoon.

"Stay away, or be swept away," the NWS advises. Riverbanks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe during a rain event. "Do not enter or cross flowing water of unknown depth."

To report storm-related issues with a County road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center 714-955-0200 during standard business hours and 714-955-0333 during Flash Flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.