Thunderstorms followed by mudslides

LOS ANGELES, May 23 (UPI) -- Severe thunderstorms caused mudslides in areas of Southern California where recent wildfires stripped steep slopes of vegetation.

Some areas in Sierra Madre were subjected to voluntary evacuations after the storm Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Tim Adams told the Times he and his brother-in-law had a narrow escape in Modjeska Canyon in Orange County.

"It was like big chunks of chocolate ice cream melting, with trees and rocks flowing through it," he said.

No deaths or major injuries or property damage were reported from the storms that passed over the area, but there were a number of mudslides, including one that closed I-10 near Los Angeles.

In Riverside County, a tornado overturned a tractor-trailer on the 215 Freeway and derailed freight cars.

"I drove through it and have never seen weather like this," said Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.