A fierce storm system that battered California with wind, rain and snow has finally begun to ebb, yet the coast, Los Angeles and the Sierra Nevada still face serious hazards.
Storm Threats Across the State
The National Weather Service warned that waves near the San Francisco Bay Area could reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) on Friday, while Southern California faced flooding risks and avalanches could strike the Lake Tahoe region. Residents of the mountain town of Wrightwood-about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles-were advised to prepare for evacuation due to mudslides. The system also brought the wettest Christmas season in downtown Los Angeles in 54 years.
Wrightwood’s Wild Christmas
The 5,000-resident town’s streets were buried under rocks, debris and thick mud on Thursday. With power out, a gas station and a coffee shop that ran on generators became the town’s emergency hubs. “It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.
Lopiccolo recounted that the family had almost evacuated the previous day when water washed away a chunk of their backyard. Instead, they stayed and celebrated the holiday. He received a new snowboard and an e-bike as a gift. “We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.
Acts of Community Resilience
Davey Schneider walked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) through rain and floodwater up to his shins from his Wrightwood home on Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house. “I wanted to help them out because I wasn’t confident that they were going to live,” Schneider said Thursday. “Fortunately, they all lived. They’re all okay – just a little bit scared.”
Arlene Corte described how roads in town turned into rivers, yet her house remained undamaged. “It could be a whole lot worse,” she said. “We’re here talking.”
Emergency Response and Losses
More than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area as rain continued to pour, according to San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Shawn Millerick. “We’re ready,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”
The storm also claimed lives: a falling tree killed a San Diego man on Wednesday, and a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in a weather-related crash farther north.
Weather Outlook and Official Actions
Areas along the coast, including Malibu, remained under a flood watch until Friday afternoon. Wind and flood advisories covered much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. Southern California typically receives half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), with even more in the mountains, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford.
More wind and heavy snow were expected in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts created “near white-out conditions” and made mountain pass travel treacherous. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in six counties to allow state assistance, and the California National Guard was put on standby.
Key Takeaways
- The storm system’s high surf, flooding and avalanche risks are still active along California’s coast, Los Angeles and the Sierra Nevada.
- Wrightwood’s residents endured mudslides, power outages and heavy debris, yet community members showed resilience and solidarity.
- Over 150 firefighters and state resources are mobilized to address ongoing weather-related hazards and potential emergencies.
The California weather front may be easing, but the state’s emergency services remain on high alert as the storm’s aftereffects continue to unfold.
