Malibu
Remote Classes and Modified Operations Tuesday on Pepperdine’s Malibu and Calabasas Campuses
Weather forecasters are predicting rainstorms for Southern California, which will bring rain to Los Angeles County over the next two days, beginning this evening. The storm is currently predicted to bring up to 1.5 inches of rain at the coast and in the valleys and 2-4 inches of rain in the mountains, with possible thunderstorms and short bursts of intense rainfall.
Because of the possibility of these bursts of intense rain, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch, its lowest of four warning levels. This warning is for the surrounding burn scar areas for the local fires in the past year, with particular focus on the Palisades and Eaton fires in this area, but also including the Franklin and Kenneth fires. (A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding and advises people to be prepared. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible. More information on the National Weather Service’s flood warnings is available here.) Los Angeles County has put out an associated evacuation warning, meaning people should be aware of the rain event and be prepared to take action if needed at the direction of local authorities. Additionally, the University has prepared the Malibu campus for rainstorms and anticipates the campus will fare well in the storm.
Given the weather forecast, the fact this is the first storm the burn scars have faced in months, and Seaver College is already on Fall break, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the University will shift to remote classes and critical support staffing for the Malibu and Calabasas campuses. Critical support personnel (CSP) should communicate with their supervisors about whether they should report to campus or should work remotely. Classes and operations will go on as normally scheduled at the West LA and Irvine campuses. Any impacts to campus events, including athletics, guest speakers, and performances, will be communicated by event organizers.
Pepperdine officials continue to monitor the situation and are in communication with local agency officials. The Pepperdine community should expect normal University operations to resume on Wednesday and as scheduled, for the remainder of the week at all Southern California campuses. If conditions change impacting Pepperdine, further messaging will be issued.
Drivers should monitor road conditions, drive carefully, and allow for extra travel time as needed. Road conditions may change quickly. Greater Los Angeles road conditions can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com. As changes are announced to roads near the Malibu campus, updates will be made to the Road Conditions Hotline at 310.506.7623 (ROAD).
Pepperdine University Officials Monitoring Oil Refinery Fire in El Segundo
Pepperdine officials are monitoring a fire at an oil refinery in El Segundo, which is visible from the Malibu Campus and may be visible from the West LA Campus. The fire is more than 20 miles from the Malibu campus and more than five miles from the West LA Campus. The fire does not pose a threat to any of Pepperdine’s Southern California campuses.
Tsunami Watch Upgraded to Tsunami Advisory
The National Tsunami Warning Center has upgraded their tsunami watch to a tsunami advisory for the US West Coast following a 8.7 earthquake approximately 80 miles southeast of Peropavlovsk Kamchatka. A tsunami advisory is the second level of the warning center’s three-tier alert system. It means a tsunami with strong currents or dangerous waves for those in or very near the water is expected. The estimated arrival time for the Los Angeles region remains approximately 1 AM Wednesday.
Individuals should remain alert and be prepared to take action. The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management also notes individuals should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways as waves could be life-threatening, and watercraft and structures could be damaged.
Pepperdine’s Malibu campus is not expected to be affected, but lower lying areas in Malibu and along the Ventura and Los Angeles coastlines could be impacted.
Please continue to monitor updates from your local authorities. In the unlikely event the University’s Malibu campus will be impacted, additional messaging will be sent, otherwise this will be the last message from the University.
Tsunami Watch Issued for US West Coast Following Earthquake off Russian Coast
The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for the US West Coast following a 8.7 earthquake approximately 80 miles southeast of Peropavlovsk Kamchatka. A tsunami watch is the lowest level of the warning center’s three-tier alert system. It means the threat level is not yet known and residents should remain alert and be prepared to take action.
Pepperdine’s Malibu campus is not expected to be affected, but lower lying areas in Malibu and along the Ventura and Los Angeles coastlines could be impacted.
Expected arrival time for the Los Angeles Region is approximately 1 AM July 30, 2025. Individuals in at-risk areas, as designated by the California Geological Survey’s tsunami evacuation map, should consider moving to higher ground. Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami. Tsunamis, which may result from an earthquake near the coast, may arrive as a series of waves/surges, which could be dangerous for many hours after the first wave arrives, and the first wave/surge may not be the highest in the series.
Please continue to monitor updates through your local authorities.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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