LOS ANGELES, CA – A stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) between Malibu and Pacific Palisades remains closed Friday morning after a series of mudslides blocked the road during Thursday’s powerful storm, officials said.
Crews worked overnight to clear thick layers of mud and debris that slid onto the highway, forcing a hard closure between Chautauqua Boulevard in Pacific Palisades and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. Heavy equipment, including bulldozers, was deployed to remove the blockage, but officials have not provided a timeline for reopening the road.
“The HARD CLOSURE of Pacific Coast Highway between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace will remain until further notice due to heavy flooding and mudslides,” Caltrans District 7 posted on X Thursday night.
Access to the highway is currently restricted to essential workers, as officials warn of ongoing risks of additional mud and debris flows.
The first reports of mudslides came in around 1:30 p.m. Thursday near Las Flores Canyon Road. Video footage showed significant debris accumulation around Duke’s Malibu, a well-known oceanfront restaurant that had previously survived the Palisades Fire but may have sustained further damage in the storm.
According to the National Weather Service, approximately two inches of rain fell in the Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades area, overwhelming already saturated hillsides and triggering the landslides.
Though light showers may persist through part of Friday, forecasters expect drier and warmer conditions over the weekend, allowing crews to make further progress in clearing the highway.
