Light rain is expected to dampen Southern California this weekend, easing fire conditions but also raising landslide risks in burn areas. It won't end local fire risk. The drizzle is “enough to tamp down but not end fire season,” says Daniel Swain, UC ANR climate scientist.

Join Swain for a live briefing this afternoon with updates on new fires in greater Los Angeles, the rain and snow to come, and the fire outlook in February:

YouTube Office Hours with Daniel Swain

Friday, Jan. 24, 3 p.m. Pacific/6 p.m. Eastern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KU6OP8AZO8

Join live to ask questions in the chat or watch the recording anytime at that same link. As always, these sessions are on-the-record, and media are welcome to quote from or air Swain's comments.

From Swain's Jan. 22 Office Hours:

More fire weather and risk after the rain: “I think this [rainy] period will very likely be a period of greatly reduced fire risk. Once we get back to the end of the first week in February, though, unless it rains again, we're going to be at the mercy of the winds, because all it will take is one Santa Ana event to evaporate all of this water, and we'll be right back to where we started.”

Landslide risk: “Isolated areas, particularly in the mountains, could see very intense downpours of a half an inch or an inch of rain in an hour. If that happens over a recent wildfire burn area, particularly on the Eaton or Palisades fires – or even the Line or Bridge fires from earlier in the year in September – there is going to be a risk of significant and potentially deadly debris flows. … There's very little risk from this event if you're not in or near a wildfire burn area, so this will be a net beneficial rain for 95% of people, but it could be quite dangerous for the 5% of people who live in or near those fire zones susceptible to debris flows. … If you are evacuated, there may be new evacuation orders or warnings for debris flow risk this weekend.”