Rain from a powerful winter storm that swept Southern California is fading, but another storm threatens Christmas Day with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms.
Heavy Rain, Mudslides, and Evacuations
Forecasters warned that Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years, citing flash flooding and mudslides. Areas scorched by January wildfires saw evacuation warnings as heavy rains and gusty winds triggered mudslides and debris flows. Many flood areas were in burn-scar zones, stripped of vegetation and less able to absorb water.
San Bernardino County firefighters rescued people trapped in cars on Wednesday when mud and debris rushed down a road into Wrightwood, a resort town 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. The exact number of rescues was not immediately clear. Firefighters also checked homes door to door, and the area was under a shelter-in-place order. An evacuation order was issued for Lytle Creek in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Stories from the Mountain Town
Travis Guenther and his family were trapped in Lytle Creek after roaring waters washed out the only bridge in or out of their neighborhood. More than a dozen neighbors took shelter at a community center or found hotel rooms. “Everybody that left to go to work this morning is stuck,” he said. “Half the families are here, and half the families are on the other side of the creek.”
Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a resident of the mountain town for 45 years, said a wildfire in 2024 left much of the terrain without tree coverage. The storm also stranded Dillan Brown, his wife and 14-month-old daughter at a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers for about another day. Roads leading off the mountain and to a grocery store became blocked by rocks and debris.
A resident learned of Brown’s situation and posted a call for help in a Facebook group. In less than an hour, neighbors arrived with more than enough supplies to ride out the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes. “I think we’re a little sad and upset that we’re not going to be home with our families,” Brown said, but the “kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling.”
Coastal and Inland Alerts
Residents around burn-scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County were ordered to evacuate. Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under flood warnings until Wednesday evening. Wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. Several roads, including a part of Interstate 5 near the Burbank Airport, closed due to flooding.
The storms were the result of multiple atmospheric rivers carrying massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. 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, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.
Snow, Avalanches, and State Response
Heavy snow and gusts created “near white-out conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada, making mountain pass travel treacherous. Officials said there was a “considerable” avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe, and a winter storm warning was in effect until Friday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow state assistance in storm response.
The state deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby. The California Highway Patrol reported a weather-related crash south of Sacramento in which a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died. James Caravallo, who was with the agency for 19 years, was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.
Key Takeaways
- Southern California faces heavy rain, mudslides, and evacuations ahead of a Christmas-day storm.
- Burn-scar zones and wildfire-damaged terrain increase flood risk.
- State and local agencies, including the National Guard, are on standby to assist.
The region’s residents and officials are preparing for a challenging week of weather, with emergency orders and community support playing a critical role in keeping people safe.
