"It's going to take less rain than usual to produce additional mudslides and flooding just because of how wet and saturated some areas are," he said. "If you are in vulnerable areas that had mudslides or rock slides, just be prepared for more."

Caltrans announced it would close PCH nightly until further notice just north of Malibu, between Sycamore Canyon Road and Las Posas Road in Ventura County.

A Caltrans inspector will assess progress daily to determine when to open the road.

According to Caltrans, about 12,500 to 13,400 commuters drive through the scenic route that will be closed.

"The immediate priority is to make the roadway safe for motorists and then work can begin on shoulder restoration," the agency said in a statement. "The duration is undetermined."

On Thursday, the road was opened to traffic by 6:43 a.m., said Marc Bischoff, spokesperson for Caltrans.

Because of the repair work and damage, crews will temporarily shift lanes closer to the inland side of the road to keep traffic flowing m both directions during the day.

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