A strong winter storm moved through California on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that prompted evacuation alerts for potential mudslides in the south. The storm also caused near white-out snow conditions in the mountains and created dangerous travel conditions for numerous holiday drivers.
Meteorologists predicted that Southern California could experience its most rain on Christmas Day in years, raising concerns about flash floods and mudslides. Areas affected by wildfires from January were put under evacuation warnings, with authorities going door to door to around 380 particularly vulnerable homes in Los Angeles County to order residents to evacuate.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation warning for the community of Wrightwood, a mountain resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains, due to the risk of mud and debris flows from the storm. Social media posts showed debris and mud flowing down the road into Wrightwood, with crews working to evacuate some homes.
Coastal areas like Malibu were under flood warnings, and parts of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area were under wind and flood advisories. The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued a man trapped in a drainage tunnel in northwest LA early Wednesday, and several roads were closed due to flooding.
The situation could worsen as multiple atmospheric rivers move across the state during a peak travel period. The storm was expected to intensify in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon before subsiding later in the evening.
Residents like 84-year-old James Dangerfield from Altadena prepared for potential flash flooding by placing sandbags in their backyard, but remained relatively calm. Another resident, Mike Burdick, quickly bought more sandbags as the pool at his parents’ home in Altadena started overflowing. Despite living near burn scars, they were ready to evacuate if needed.
California typically receives half an inch to an inch of rain at this time of year, but this week could see four to eight inches in many areas, with even more in the mountains.
Weather experts also warned of heavy snow and strong winds causing near white-out conditions in parts of the Sierra Nevada, making travel through mountain passes nearly impossible. Monterey experienced wind gusts of up to 60 mph, leading to power outages. The storm also resulted in a fatal crash south of Sacramento, and minor flight delays were reported at San Francisco and Los Angeles airports.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to facilitate state assistance in responding to the storm. The storm has already caused damage in Northern California, with flash flooding leading to water rescues and one reported fatality. Emergency resources and first responders were deployed to coastal and Southern California counties, with the California National Guard on standby.
