In Santa Barbara, people living in at-risk areas were told to leave by 3 p.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said on X around 5 p.m. local time that the storm was "rapidly intensifying" over Los Angeles County.

In the Los Angeles area, the burn scars that carry the highest risk are those from the Eaton and Palisades fires from January and the Bridge Fire from the fall.

The first wave of the strongest storm of the winter began hitting Southern California on Wednesday, but the most damaging rains are expected Thursday.