Rain Expected to Bring Flash Flooding to Southern California Monday and Tuesday.

Rain began to fall in the Southern California region early Monday morning, the first significant rain since last December. Areas that burned just weeks ago were ordered evacuated.

The National Weather service warned that a "Significant STORM system approaching, peaking tonight into Tuesday. Flash flooding and debris flows likely near recent burn areas. Major travel delays and flooded roads for Tuesday morning commute. #CAstorm #cawx #Larain". this of course on Twitter.

It is unclear how well the burn areas will tolerate the much ballyhooed rain. Several fires, including the massive Thomas fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, have cleared brush and trees from hilly areas. In Kagel Canyon for example, in Northern LA County, men were laying down sand bags along road perimeters, hoping to keep landslides in check.

Forecasters expected up to six inches of rain in the foothills and mountains, about 1/3d of the region's average annual rain total. Precipitation is expected to end Tuesday morning around 6 am.

20 homes burned in December in Kagel Canyon and La Tuna Canyon. In Ventura, the Thomas Fire burned more than 20,000 acres and as the rain intensified Monday, authorities kept a watch on the burned, barren hills.