Southern California hit by powerful holiday storm causing flash floods, mudslides

A powerful winter storm wreaked havoc across California on Wednesday, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds that resulted in mudslides and debris flows, leading to water rescues and evacuation orders in some areas.

Forecasters issued warnings for Southern California, predicting the wettest Christmas in years and cautioning about the potential for flash flooding and mudslides. In areas ravaged by wildfires in January, evacuation warnings were in place, with Los Angeles County officials issuing approximately 380 evacuation orders to vulnerable homes.

San Bernardino County firefighters conducted rescues of individuals trapped in their vehicles by mud and debris rushing down a road in Wrightwood, a mountain resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains, located about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Door-to-door checks were also carried out by firefighters, and a shelter-in-place order was in effect for the area. Additionally, Lytle Creek, another location in the San Gabriel Mountains, was under evacuation orders as the relentless rains continued.

Videos captured debris and mud cascading down roads in Wrightwood, while fast-moving water flooded the front porches of homes in the area. Dillan Brown, stranded with his family at a rented cabin in Wrightwood, described the challenging situation, with roads blocked by rocks and debris, leaving them with limited supplies. However, a call for help on Facebook led to neighbors providing them with essential items to weather the storm.

Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the impact of a wildfire in 2024, which left the terrain devoid of tree coverage, leading to increased debris and mudflow in the current storm. Residents in burn scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County were also under evacuation orders.

Coastal areas, including Malibu, were under flood warnings, while regions such as the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area were under wind and flood advisories.

The heavy rain caused road closures, including a section of Interstate 5 near Burbank Airport, due to flooding. Multiple atmospheric rivers during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year could exacerbate conditions. While the rain subsided in Los Angeles in the evening, another storm system loomed on the horizon, with showers and possible thunderstorms forecasted for Christmas Day.

Residents like James Dangerfield in Altadena prepared for potential flooding, with flash flood warnings issued for the neighborhood. Despite the risks, Dangerfield and his family planned to stay put and celebrate Christmas Eve with their loved ones. Mike Burdick, caring for his parents near burn scars in Altadena, rushed to buy sandbags when he noticed their pool overflowing due to the downpour.

Southern California typically receives half an inch to an inch of rain at this time of year. However, this week’s storm brought between 4 and 8 inches to many areas, with even higher amounts in the mountains, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford.

In the Sierra Nevada region, heavy snow and gusts were expected to create near white-out conditions, making travel nearly impossible through mountain passes. An increased avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe prompted warnings from the Sierra Avalanche Center, with a winter storm warning in effect for the greater Tahoe region until Friday morning.

The storm caused power outages affecting over 125,000 customers, with a damaged power pole reported by the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. utility. Tragically, a weather-related crash south of Sacramento claimed the life of Sacramento Sheriff Deputy James Caravallo, who lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole.

Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Sacramento as severe weather moved inland, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in six counties to facilitate state assistance in the storm response. Emergency resources and first responders were deployed to coastal and Southern California counties, with the California National Guard on standby.

Atmospheric rivers, which transport moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes, played a significant role in the intensity of the storm, underscoring the challenges posed by extreme weather events in the region.