A Santa Clarita storm system expected to pass through over the week has the potential to bring mudslides and floods as five to 10 inches of rain are predicted to fall over the next three days.

Wednesday evening into Thursday is the best chance to see the heaviest downpours, said Weather Specialist Stuart Seto with the National Weather Service.

Mudslides can happen any time half an inch of rain or more falls per hour.

“At this time, it’s unclear when a half inch or more will fall, so residents need to be ready for it when it does happen,” said Seto.

Residents near burn areas caused by recent fires such as the Rye Fire and the Creek Fire are not the only ones who should be concerned about the upcoming storm, said Seto.

Related: Santa Clarita Storm Watch 24 Hour Traffic Report

“Residents who live in canyons and low elevations need to be prepared for the storm as well as people in the recently burned areas and even from burn areas from the past.”

Officials with the National Weather Service are urging residents who live in these areas to start preparing for the storm immediately by getting sandbags ready for the possibility of mudslides and debris flows.

“All fire stations in Santa Clarita have free sand and bags available for the public,” said Capt. Paul Peppard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “The bags are not filled, and need to be made by whomever may need them.”

Other precautions residents can take are planting vegetation on large bare areas to prevent mudslides, cleaning private drains and gutters and  inspect sloped areas for signs of slope movement.

This upcoming storm is set to bring almost a third of the total rainfall that California saw in the end of 2016 in to 2017.

Between October 2016 and February 2017, California averaged 27.81 inches of precipitation, the highest average since such records began being kept in 1895, according to data released Wednesday by the National Centers for Environmental Information, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is aware of the upcoming storm and have a plan in effect for evacuations if they are needed. However, no mandatory or voluntary evacuations have been issued as of Monday morning, said Sgt. Bringas, with the SCV Sheriff’s Station.

Even without evacuations, officials are urging caution and common sense during the rain.

“No matter how deep or wide flowing water may be, do not try crossing it for your own safety,” said Seto.

Did you spot a correction? Let us know by emailing [email protected]

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!