California Braces for Historic Storm, Facing Flooding, Landslides, and Travel Chaos
California is battling a powerful winter storm that brought heavy rains and gusty winds Wednesday, triggering debris flows, water rescues, and widespread evacuation orders. Forecasters warn that Southern California could experience its wettest Christmas in years, with a significant risk of flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas recently scarred by wildfires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties, enabling the activation of emergency authorities and the pre-positioning of critical resources.
The storm, which began intensifying on Christmas Eve, poses a severe threat to travel across the state, with millions potentially facing hazardous or impossible conditions. Several atmospheric rivers are forecast to impact California, according to the National Weather Service. The storm in Los Angeles strengthened throughout Wednesday but is expected to diminish later in the evening.
An atmospheric river is defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a long, narrow band of water vapor formed over tropical oceans. Strong winds funnel this vapor northward or southward, often impacting the California coast, where it releases as rain or snow.
Wind gusts in Los Angeles County exceeded 60 mph, downing trees and power lines, according to Ariel Cohen, a National Weather Service meteorologist in charge, as reported by CBS Los Angeles. Cohen urged residents to “take these warnings and messages seriously as the accumulative effects of the rain will result in increasingly dangerous and life-threatening conditions as we head through the holiday time period.”
Evacuation orders are in effect for parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties, specifically in burn scar areas vulnerable to landslides. Los Angeles County officials delivered approximately 380 evacuation orders to at-risk homes on Tuesday. Despite the warnings, authorities noted that many residents in burn scar areas have chosen to remain in their homes. “The threat posed by this storm is real and imminent,” stated a senior law enforcement official, echoing the concerns of L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna. He added, “If you decide to stay in your home in an evacuated area…it could be difficult to leave once the storm begins.”
Early Wednesday, the L.A. Fire Department rescued a man trapped in a drainage tunnel in northwest Los Angeles that led to a river. No injuries were reported, and the individual is undergoing evaluation. Multiple roadways throughout the region have been closed due to flooding.
Residents are actively preparing for the storm’s impact. Claire Hamano, a Malibu resident, expressed her concerns about potential landslides near her home, telling CBS Los Angeles on Monday, “If there are landslides, let’s say on the PCH, we won’t be able to get out…that’s kind of my biggest fear.” She was filling her car with sandbags as a preventative measure.
Meteorologists predict that Southern California, which typically receives half an inch to one inch of rain this time of year, could see between 4 and 8 inches this week, with even higher amounts possible in the mountains. Wind gusts could reach 60 to 80 mph along the central coast. In addition to power outages and downed trees, officials anticipate widespread road closures and airport delays.
Los Angeles County has deployed K-rails – barriers designed to catch debris – around burn scar areas and is offering free sandbags to residents. Kathryn Barger, a Los Angeles County supervisor representing Altadena, highlighted the vulnerability of areas impacted by the devastating Eaton Fire last January. Brinda Kimpton, a resident whose home survived the Eaton Fire, expressed growing anxiety about the rains, stating Wednesday that “the mud debris came down, and it’s breached the K-rails,” adding, “it’s been a hell of a year.”
The storm’s impact extends beyond Southern California. In Northern California, flash flooding has already led to water rescues and, tragically, at least one death. Much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area are under a flood watch and high wind warning through Friday. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Greater Tahoe Region, forecasting heavy snow and “near white-out conditions” in the Sierra Nevada, making travel “nearly impossible.” As of Wednesday morning, more than 125,000 people were without power due to a damaged power pole, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. There is also a risk of severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes along the northern coast.
In the mountain community of Wrightwood, San Bernardino County firefighters rescued individuals trapped in their cars as mud and debris surged down a road. A shelter-in-place order was issued for Wrightwood on Wednesday afternoon after Highway 2 was washed out by flooding. Dillan Brown, stranded at a cabin with his wife and 14-month-old daughter, described finding his vehicle surrounded by debris and a car swept away by floodwaters. Fortunately, neighbors responded to a call for help posted on Facebook, providing essential supplies.
Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce, explained that a 2024 wildfire left the region with limited tree coverage, exacerbating the impact of the rainfall. “All this rain is bringing down a lot of debris and a lot of mud from the mountain area,” she said.
Residents in Orange County’s burn scar zones near the Airport Fire were also ordered to evacuate Wednesday morning.
State and local officials are actively preparing for emergency response throughout the week, with the California National Guard on standby to provide assistance. The unfolding situation underscores the increasing vulnerability of California communities to extreme weather events, particularly in the wake of recent wildfires.
[Image of the flowing Santa Clara River in Fillmore, California on Dec. 24, 2025. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images]
[Image of flooding in Wrightwood, California on Dec. 24, 2025. San Bernardino County Fire Department]
