Exceptionally dry weather has targeted Southern California so far this winter, creating ideal conditions for wildfires.

Southern California has experienced its first significant storm of the season, which brought much-needed snow and rain to the region, including some impactful consequences. On Monday, these weather conditions helped to douse ongoing wildfires yet caused ash and mud flows on streets in the Los Angeles area.

So far, many clues to the origins of the deadly Eaton fire, which started in the area just after 6 p.m. that evening and went on to kill 17 people, have pointed to the brushy hillside where a tangle of electrical lines stretch up Eaton Canyon.

As of Jan 21, 2025, firefighters in southern California, USA, were still struggling to extinguish two of the largest wildfires the state has ever seen. The Palisades fire broke out in the western suburbs of Los Angeles,

This file captures the news of the California wildfires from Sunday, Jan. 27. For the latest updates on the fires, follow USA TODAY's coverage for Monday, Jan. 27. Intermittent showers sweeping across Southern California on Sunday provided welcome relief for firefighters battling devastating wildfires but threatened to bring an unwelcome side effect — mudslides.

More rain fell Monday on parts of Southern California after causing mudflows over the weekend, helping firefighters but boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires.