A powerful March storm has been lashing the West Coast with heavy rainfall, gusty winds and snowfall in the mountains –– shifting southward and posing a particular threat to communities scorched by the deadly Los Angeles wildfires from the start of the year.

With rain rates close to an inch and hour possible, Los Angeles issues address specific-evacuation orders in places vulnerable to mudslides.

A powerful storm is dropping drenching rain on flood-prone Southern California and heavy snow on the state’s mountains. It’s the first act of a storm that will unleash a severe thunderstorm outbreak,

Evacuation warnings and orders have been issued for Los Angeles communities near the Eaton, Palisades and Sunset fire burn zones ahead of the rain.

A flood watch remains in effect Thursday for parts of Southern California as the region experiences rainfall and flooding conditions.