The heavy rains have washed out Ortega Highway, which connects Orange and Riverside counties.
Also known as State Route 74, the highway was closed at 1:50 p.m. Saturday and is expected to open at 6 a.m. Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Once it opens, traffic is expected to be slow.
The road is completely closed to westbound traffic. The eastbound lanes are open only to residents and those who work at Quest Diagnostics, a few miles east of San Juan Capistrano.
The winding mountain road runs from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore.
–Jeff Gottlieb
FULL COVERAGE OF THE MUDSLIDES
–Times photo gallery from the scene
–Interactive map of evacuations by The Times' Rong-Gong Lin II
–The latest rain news as it happens on L.A. Now