(Los Angeles, December 26, 2025) –
Southern California is assessing damage from historic rainfall and mudslides as flood risks remain despite easing downpours.
- Record rainfall over the Christmas holiday led to widespread flooding and debris flows in southern California.
- A massive mudslide buried homes in the San Gabriel Mountains, prompting evacuations.
- While the heaviest rain has subsided, flood risks and the potential for further debris flows persist.
- The extreme weather event occurred amid an intensifying cycle of drought and deluge in the region.
Southern california experienced it’s wettest christmas holiday ever, resulting in widespread flooding and debris flows, according to reports from multiple news outlets.
Flooding and Mudslides
Table of Contents
A notable mudslide struck the San Gabriel Mountains, burying homes and prompting evacuation orders, KTLA reported. The extent of the damage and potential injuries are still being assessed.
The Los Angeles area received significant rainfall, with the Los Angeles Times noting the holiday marked the wettest Christmas period on record. The CNN reported that a final push of rain threatened to cause more flooding and debris flows.
Did you know? – California’s atmospheric rivers are responsible for roughly 30% of the state’s annual precipitation,but can also cause significant damage.
ongoing Risks
Although the heaviest rainfall has eased, the National Weather Service warns that flood risks remain, the New York Times reported. the saturated ground increases the potential for further debris flows, especially in areas recently burned by wildfires.
Santa Ana winds are expected to follow the storm system, potentially exacerbating the situation, according to USA Today.
Pro tip – Stay informed about evacuation orders and road closures through local news and official emergency channels. Heed warnings and avoid travel in affected areas.
Drought-to-Deluge Cycle
The extreme weather event highlights an intensifying cycle of drought and deluge in California, the Los Angeles Times reported. Periods of prolonged drought create conditions that make the region more vulnerable to devastating floods when heavy rainfall occurs.
“This is a historic storm,” a National Weather Service official told the Los Angeles Times, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the rainfall.
time.news based this report in part on reporting by The New York times, los Angeles Times, USA Today, CNN, and KTLA and added autonomous analysis and context.
Reader question – How can communities better prepare for these increasingly frequent extreme weather events?
why did this happen? The historic rainfall was caused by a powerful atmospheric river, a concentrated band of moisture in the atmosphere, that brought record-breaking precipitation to Southern California over the Christmas holiday. This event was exacerbated by an intensifying cycle of drought and deluge, where prolonged dry periods create conditions that make the region more susceptible to severe flooding when heavy rainfall occurs.
Who was affected? Residents of Southern California, particularly those in the San Gabriel Mountains and Los Angeles areas, were directly impacted by the flooding and mudslides. Evacuation orders were issued, and homes were buried by debris flows. The extent of injuries is still being assessed.
What happened? Southern California experienced its wettest Christmas holiday on record,leading to widespread flooding,debris flows,and a significant mud
