<p>Heavy rains dramatically increased the flow of creeks and rivers in southern California early Thursday morning, March 22, as authorities kept a wary eye on a region already hit by deadly mud flows two months ago.</p><p>Nearby burn areas, hit by wildfires last fall, heighten the likelihood of such debris and mudflows. Montecito in particular was ravaged by the January storms</a>. Santa Barbara County Fire officials were watching the creek levels and using an excavator to remove boulders and other debris from San Ysidro Basin. Credit: Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire via Storyful</p><br />
