Widespread Flooding and Mudslides
Heavy rainstorms across large parts of California caused floods and mudslides, leaving three people dead as of Christmas night. The storms were expected to continue through Friday.
Some areas in Los Angeles County received up to 11 inches (27 cm) of rain. The rainfall prompted evacuations and forced the closure of major roads. Emergency responders rescued people trapped in vehicles as floodwaters rose.
State of Emergency Declared
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in Los Angeles and other southern counties.
About 100,000 residents were without power as of Thursday evening. The US Weather Prediction Center warned of “numerous flash flooding events” and said many streams may flood, affecting larger rivers.
Fatalities Reported
- A 64-year-old man in San Diego died Wednesday morning after a tree fell on him.
- A 74-year-old man drowned in Redding over the weekend while police tried to rescue him from his vehicle.
- A woman in her 70s was swept into the ocean at MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino County on Monday after being knocked off a rock by a large wave.
Evacuations and Warnings
Evacuation warnings were in effect for some residents of San Bernardino County. Flash flood warnings were also issued for parts of the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday morning.
Wind speeds exceeded 100 mph (161 km/h) near San Jose, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mudslides Linked to Previous Wildfires
In Altadena, near Los Angeles, flooding caused a mudslide. The area had been stripped of vegetation by January wildfires, which reduced the land’s ability to absorb water, BanerClub reported.
Safety Advisories
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency and urged residents to stay cautious on roads during the busy holiday travel period.
“I am urging all Angelenos to stay safe and be extremely careful on the roads if you absolutely must travel,” she said. “Please do not take this storm lightly.”
Atmospheric Rivers Bring Heavy Moisture
The storms originated from multiple atmospheric rivers. They carried large amounts of moisture from the tropics, hitting California during one of the year’s busiest travel weeks, BanerClub reported.
