Parts of Pacific Coast Highway remained closed due to heavy flooding and mudslides in Southern California, according to state officials.

A powerful storm is bearing down on California as an atmospheric river drops through the state. While the fast-moving system will affect nearly the entire state on Thursday, of high concern is Southern California as intense rains fall on the heels of devastating wildfires — downpours that could trigger damaging floods and debris flows.

Heavy rain from the latest atmospheric river triggered flood warnings in several Bay Area counties and evacuations in Santa Cruz County Thursday.

An atmospheric river was set to begin pummeling Southern California with heavy rain on Thursday, prompting evacuations and school closures as officials warned about life-threatening flooding and mudslides in areas charred by the wildfires that broke out across the region last month.

With a potentially dangerous storm bearing down on the Southern California, evacuation warnings will take effect in multiple areas Thursday amid fears that steady downpours could spark flooding, mudslides and debris flows.

A flash flood warning was issued Thursday afternoon for the Palisades and Franklin fires burn scars in Los Angeles County as the most powerful wave of a winter storm moved into the region. The warning,