Malibu, CA

MALIBU, CA — Weather experts are predicting another wet weekend ahead as rain from another atmospheric river hitting Northern California is expected to sprinkle over Malibu after Thursday night.

In comparison to more recent storms in the city, this rainstorm is predicted to be much weaker and also warmer as temperatures start to climb up about four to eight degrees according to the National Weather Service.

In Malibu, there is a 94 percent chance of rain on Friday with a high of 59 degrees, but dryer and warmer conditions in the low-60s are expected to follow on Saturday and Sunday.

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"This will be a much warmer system with snow levels rising to at least 8000 ft which would greatly increase the risk of flooding as snow melt would combine with the heavy rain," NWS said.

For months now, Los Angeles County has been pelted with heavy precipitation and, more recently, snow in some areas. According to the National Weather Service, this winter has been the county's 11th wettest since records began in 1877.

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Over the last three months, Downtown L.A. has gotten 17.71 inches of rain. The county's wettest winter was recorded in 2004-2005 with L.A. seeing more than 29 inches of rain, NWS said.

Additionally, the past three months in Los Angeles have had the coolest winter temperatures since the winter of 1978-79 with an average daytime temperature of about 65 degrees.

With all the rainfall, the county's drought conditions have significantly improved. Before the rain began in December, Much of the county was classified to be in a severe drought, with some eastern areas of the county experiencing dryer conditions.

After the dramatic rainstorms, including the atmospheric river that hit the county at the very start of 2023, the whole county has seen drought conditions drastically improve with areas in the Santa Monica Mountains classified as having little to no drought.

"The stormy pattern this winter hasn't only put a dent in the drought, it will eliminate it by the time spring evolves into summer," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

With everything from salsa dancing classes to gen-ed requirements, the Malibu Campus is shaping up to be a community institution.

|Updated Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 12:18 pm PT

MALIBU, CA — Now that Santa Monica College's Malibu Campus has been up and running for about a month, the institution's leaders are making the rounds across the community to network with residents and spread the word about the college's offerings.

Alice Meyering, associate dean of the campus, delivered a presentation at the Malibu City Council meeting Monday, where she shared some facts about the campus.

Here's some essential information about Malibu's newest community institution:

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The campus is already popular

The SMC outpost began welcoming students for the spring semester on February 13 and currently has 450 people enrolled across four different educational models.

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It's not just for traditional students

While 70 percent of the campus' students are traditional ones, who graduated high school within the last five years, SMC leaders are making sure there's something for everyone in Malibu.

In addition to credit-bearing courses, the Malibu campus offers noncredit classes for career advancement and emeritus enrichment classes for older adults.

There's diversity in the most popular classes

Given the high proportion of traditional students, Meyering said general education requirements like elementary statistics and reading composition are among the most popular courses.

But electives and enrichment classes are also popular, including general psychology, film appreciation and both beginners and intermediate salsa dance.

It's all in-person

All of the courses offered at the Malibu campus are in person, and Meyering said that means there's a robust on-the-ground presence of dedicated staffers at the building.

Angela Bice is an administrative assistant who works closely with Meyering.

Media resources assistant Carla Brown works to troubleshoot classroom equipment, manage digital information and maintain the campus' website.

Student services specialist Janet Kleinman works with people through the registration process and designs surveys to gauge student interest.

Sergio Velez is the dedicated campus security officers and Robert Escobar is the building's custodian.

Community building is crucial

Meyering said the campus is about so much more than just a place to take classes.

"Santa Monica College hopes to add more to the Malibu community," she said. "Our hope is with a little more time, we will be able to provide meaningful public programming that everyone can enjoy and appreciate."

Meyering and her team have been busy forging partnerships with local nonprofits, public schools, Pepperdine University, businesses and the Malibu Library.

An open house at the campus will be held April 22 from 12:30-2:30 p.m., 23555 Civic Center Way.

The building will also host the Malibu State of the City address on May 3.

MALIBU, CA — The relentless stream of atmospheric rivers ravaged California's roads, leading to thousands of potholes on freeways, highways and surface streets across the Golden State. If it seems worse than usual — it is.

From a pothole on an overpass that sent debris flying onto the 5 in Glendale in mid-March to several large potholes that developed on State Route 71 in Pomona that damaged 30 vehicles, snarled traffic for miles, and prompted several nights of closures to repair, navigating the storms has been anything but pleasant.

According to Caltrans, the unrelenting nature of the winter storms and early spring have provided precisely the conditions that are ripe for potholes to form.

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"When it rains or snows, you get water that seeps through cracks in the pavement, then the base layer in the soil underneath the road becomes saturated," said Allison Colburn, a public information officer for Caltrans. "This eventually leaves a void underneath the road. So when vehicles drive over the cracked pavement, repeatedly...the surface then breaks and collapses into the void."

The city of Malibu has repaired 218 potholes since Jan. 1, according to city spokesman Matt Myerhoff.

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On a wider scale, Caltrans' Los Angeles and Ventura county district has seen crews fill north of 8,000 potholes between New Year's Day and March 20 — a figure nearly three times higher than the same time last year.

Caltrans actively monitors roads across the region during storm events, and crews respond as possible to the hundreds of reports filed by drivers.

"They're basically prioritized by the availability of resources, but also the priority of how bad the damage is," Colburn said. "A small pothole that's maybe not causing any damage or issues, that's going to be prioritized behind a large pothole in the middle of a lane."

Spot a pothole that needs repair? You'll need to go to the agency which maintains the particular road.

The city of Malibu maintains city-owned streets. Residents can report potholes to the Malibu Public Works Department at 310-456-2489, ext. 391 during business hours, by emailing mpublicworks@malibucity.org, or by calling all the city’s 24/7 hotline at 310-456-2489, ext. 311.

For drivers who spot a pothole on state roads, Caltrans said using its online customer service request portal is the best bet.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works maintains roads in unincorporated areas, such as those just outside the city limits in the Santa Monica Mountains. The department has a pothole repair form on its website.

Drivers who believe their vehicle was damaged by a pothole on a state road, and that Caltrans was responsible, can seek compensation from the agency, but Colburn cautions that getting a claim approved is not a sure thing.

"I want to clarify that under California law, Caltrans does not insure vehicles for damage on our highways," Colburn said. "There is a driver responsibility component here. Drivers in California must exercise caution on all roads and have car insurance to cover liability and property damage. In limited circumstances, Caltrans may be statutorily responsible for damage to a vehicle."

For damage valued up to $10,000, drivers can submit a claim online. Anything higher is handled separately by California's Government Claims Program.

For damage incurred on Malibu roads, residents can use the city's online claims form.

MALIBU, CA — Several Southland eateries — including one in Malibu — earned coveted spots on Food & Wine's first-ever "Global Tastemakers" rankings, which enlisted readers and experts alike to scour the globe for the best eats and drinks, from cozy neighborhood spots to Michelin-rated staples.

The publication worked with research firm M&RR to survey readers through the end of last year and tapped 150 industry professionals to nominate some of their favorite places in the U.S. and beyond.

The rankings cover several types of "best," from bars and restaurants to airlines and airport menus and hotel and cruise options.

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Here are a few areas where SoCal excelled.

Los Angeles claimed three of the top five spots in the "10 Best Restaurants in the U.S." category. Leading off the list in second place is Wolfgang Puck's Merois, with a menu that draws from cuisines in Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore and Mongolia.

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"This glamorous restaurant on the rooftop of the Pendry West Hollywood proves that Wolfgang Puck has still got it," Food & Wine writes. "With draped fabric creating a tented effect, chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer sweeping views of Los Angeles, the gorgeous interiors set the tone for sophisticated, thoughtful dishes."

In L.A.'s Arts District, the Michelin-starred Camphor earned the number three spot, with reviewers highlighting the fusion of French techniques and South Asian flavors. In fourth place with two Michelin stars is Providence, helmed by Michael Cimarusti, which Food & Wine said may offer up the best seafood in the city.

"Cimarusti sources the best quality sustainable seafood from American waters, turning the raw material into artful and delicious dishes," reviewers write. "The menu changes often, but you might get a gently cooked Pacific oyster topped with Champagne butter and caviar or salt-roasted Santa Baraba spot prawns."

When it comes to ambiance, L.A. knocks it out of the park. Merois and Camphor return to the list, ranking as the second and third-most ambient restaurants in the country, joined by Providence at number five and Nobu Malibu at tenth.

Overall, Food & Wine ranks Los Angeles as the fourth-best city for food in the nation, trailing only New York, New Orleans and San Francisco.

"You never know when you're going to run into a pop-up led by a famous chef, which is part of the city's unexpected and magical energy," reviewers write. "From barbecue (a scene that's experienced a semi-recent boom in the area) and inventive food trucks to iconic taquerias like Mariscos Jalisco, there's variety and range outside the usual Hollywood hot spots."

San Diego nabbed the ninth spot on that list, with reviewers shouting out Matsu, Addison, Raised By Wolves and Jomaru Korean Hot Pot.

"San Diego hasn't always been known for its food scene, and that's why we're so excited to see it chosen in this year's awards," Food & Wine writes. "Many of the city's hottest restaurants have experienced an evolution in the scene — Matsu, a modern Japanese joint from Chef William Eick, is a great example, as it was originally a pop-up before opening its doors in the Tremont District."

And it's not just fine dining, but street eats, too. When it comes to food trucks, L.A. and San Diego more than hold their own. Los Angeles ranks second for American food truck cities, behind only Portland, with reviewers salivating over taco truck fares from Simón, Mariscos Jalisco and Chingon Catering. Yeastie Boys' bagels and Kogi BBQ's kimchi quesadillas also earned a shout.

San Diego is the seventh-best city for food trucks, with Food & Wine especially keen on the ceviche, fish tacos and fish burritos from Kiko's Place Seafood and the Korean barbecue and gourmet burgers slung at the Super Q Food Truck.

"Sunny days and gorgeous sunsets make it easy to post up almost anywhere to enjoy a meal or snack," reviewers write. "Whether diners are in the mood for classic Southern California dishes or international cuisine, San Diego's food truck scene is sure to satisfy any craving."

Malibu beachgoers will be able to see the pinky-sized sea creatures on the shore as they migrate to SoCal's warmer waters.

MALIBU, CA — The shores of Malibu are overrun with hundreds of squishy jellyfish-like organisms known as Velella velella, or By-the-Wind Sailors, and marine biologists cautioned beachgoers against touching them.

What looks like one of these little creatures is actually a colony of hundreds of polyps that come together to form the By-the-Wind Sailors, according to Nona Reimer of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. The organisms feed on algae and zooplankton in the water and are commonly eaten by ocean sunfish.

Manhattan Beach Roundhouse Aquarium Programs and Operations Director Melissa Wu said the onslaught of the creatures is normal around this time of year as they come to warmer waters. Wu said these incoming sailors are likely coming north, and they have been reported in both Los Angeles and Orange County waters.

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“They don’t come into shore a lot, so it’s cool when we see them,” Wu said.

Related to jellyfish and Portuguese Man O’War, By-the-Wind Sailors also have stinging cells, though the ones washing ashore aren’t as potent to humans as they could be, according to Wu.

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Though marine biologists don’t recommend touching or picking up the pinky-sized organisms, Wu said their stinging cells won’t be as strong if they’re seen on the beach. Wu said as they wash ashore, the organisms fire their stinging cells until they eventually run out.

“Once they beach themselves they start to die,” Wu said. “As they’re dying they’re not regenerating those stinging cells.”

The little creatures are classified as hydrozoans, a subgroup of cnidarians, and are most often pelagic, meaning they tend to reside in the open sea. More commonly, the wind-riders are found in the more tropical waters of Baja California.

Because of their size, the By-the-Wind Sailors are at the mercy of the winds and tides as they move around in the water, Reimer said.

If you happen across one of the By-the-Wind Sailors, Wu said it’s best to report them to lifeguards and leave them be. Reimer said it’s okay to hold them by the sails on top of the creature but to avoid touching the stinging tentacles at the bottom of the organism.

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