With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires and new blazes flaring up earlier this week, expected rainfall this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat.

At least 27 people have died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Thursday evening. Seventeen of the deaths are from the Eaton Fire in Altadena and 10 from the Palisades Fire, according to the medical examiner.