2 Dead, Flash Flood Warnings Issued As SoCal Faces Wettest Christmas In Years

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — Heavy rain and hail have prompted flash flood warnings and other alerts across the Southland on Christmas morning as an atmospheric river storm continues to drench Southern California.

Southern California braced Thursday for another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides a day after heavy rain and gusty winds were blamed for at least two deaths.

Forecasters said the region could see its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires in January. Those burn scar zones have been stripped of vegetation by fire and are less able to absorb water.

On Wednesday, a falling tree killed a San Diego man, local news outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash.

San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood, a resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear how many were rescued.

The National Weather Service issued the flash flood warning for areas including Malibu and Topanga until 10:15 a.m. in a post on X, along with other special weather alerts.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the weather service said. "Mud and debris flows will be possible across foothill and mountain areas, including recent burn scars."

"Locally heavy rain is expected during the day and into early Friday morning, especially in the mountains, with rain rates up to a 0.50-0.75 inches per hour possible," according to the National Weather Service. "Given the amount of water that fell [Wednesday] it won't take much additional rain to generate significant impacts, including additional mud and rock slides through the canyons and dangerous flooding on area roads and highways."

On Christmas morning, the NWS issued a flash flood warning for southwest Los Angeles County until 10:15 a.m., after Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area.

The first wave of a "very dangerous" atmospheric river storm dumped sometimes-torrential rain on the area Wednesday, with double-digit precipitation falling in some mountain areas, freeway flooding and fears of debris flows in recent burn areas, where residents were under evacuation warnings or orders.

Firefighters also went door to door to check homes, and the area was under a shelter-in-place order, officials said. An evacuation order was issued for Lytle Creek, also in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Travis Guenther and his family were trapped in Lytle Creek after roaring waters washed out the only bridge in or out of their neighborhood. More than a dozen neighbors took shelter at a community center or found hotel rooms.

“Everybody that left to go to work this morning is stuck,” he said. “Half the families are here, and half the families are on the other side of the creek.”

Guenther said he had plenty of supplies and was coordinating with other in the community of about 280 people. Two nurses who live on his street offered to help anyone who may need medical attention.

Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a resident of the mountain town for 45 years, said a wildfire in 2024 left much of the terrain without tree coverage.

The storm also stranded Dillan Brown, his wife and 14-month-old daughter at a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers for about another day. Roads leading off the mountain and to a grocery store were blocked by rocks and debris, Brown said.

A resident posted a call for help in a Facebook group. In less than an hour, neighbors showed up with more than enough supplies to ride out the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes.

“I think we’re a little sad and upset that we’re not going to be home with our families,” Brown said, but the “kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling.”

Forecasters said another 2 to 5 inches of rain are likely to fall in the mountains during the second wave, but other areas should receive less than 2 inches, unless isolated thunderstorms develop with heavy rains.

Los Angeles County officials were cautioning people to check the current alerts before going out and to take flood threats seriously.

According to the Mayor's Office, the Los Angeles Fire Department had stepped-up staffing in place to respond to swift-water rescues or mud and debris flows. Crews from the Department of Water and Power, Street Services and L.A. Sanitation were also on standby.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office and Los Angeles County both issued emergency proclamations due to the storm, freeing up added resources.

The rain was accompanied by powerful winds that reached 80 mph in some areas. A wind advisory was in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday in many areas of LA County, with gusts up to 45 miles an hour predicted.

Major crashes were reported on multiple freeways. Both directions of the Golden State (5) Freeway were closed Wednesday in Sun Valley due to flooding, but the freeway reopened overnight. Flooding was also reported on the westbound Ventura (101) Freeway in the Van Nuys area. There were also reports of large rocks falling onto the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Agua Dulce.

Thousands of residents also lost power Wednesday morning amid the storm. The Mayor's Office reported at 11 a.m. that about 20 traffic signals around Los Angeles were out, 43 downed trees had been reported, and the Los Angeles Police Department had responded to more than 50 traffic crashes, while the fire department responded to at least two river-rescue calls.

Los Angeles city and county officials issued a series of evacuation warnings and orders in advance of the storm. The city issued evacuation warnings that took effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday and will remain in effect through 11 p.m. Thursday for residents of Pacific Palisades and Mandeville Canyon near the Palisades Fire, and south of Runyon Canyon near the Sunset Fire area.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said 126 homes within the city were under evacuation orders, and officers went door-to-door to alert those residents. An evacuation center was available at the Stoner Recreation Center, 1835 Stoner Ave., in West Los Angeles.

The atmospheric river storm system is expected to continue to bring heavy rain through Friday, meaning there will be continued risks of highway flooding, rock and mudslides and flash floods.

"The recent burn scars will be at risk for debris flows, possibly damaging. These flooding impacts will likely lead to significant travel delays and road closures during this busy holiday travel period," the weather service said.

The flooding threat was expected to be at its most intense Christmas Day and Friday "due to the super saturation of all of the area," the weather service said. "Any rainfall that occurs will immediately turn to run off."

Temperatures will be in the upper 50s and lower 60s, the service said.

A state of emergency issued Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom remains in effect.

The weather service said the main portion of the storm has moved out after dumping 2 to 4 inches of rain, with 4 to 8 over the foothills and mountains.

Two more pulses of the storm are anticipated Christmas and into Friday.

County officials, meanwhile, issued evacuation warnings for residents near the Palisades, Eaton, Agua Dulce, Lidia, Franklin, Bridge, Canyon, Owen, Hurst and Kenneth fires. Sheriff's deputies were also going door-to-door to high-risk residences to notify them of evacuation orders.

Sheriff Robert Luna said 124 homes in the sheriff's unincorporated coverage area were under evacuation orders. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said roughly 260 other homes in various incorporated cities -- including the city of Los Angeles -- were also under evacuation orders and would be visited by local police departments.

Residents can check the evacuation status of their neighborhoods at protect.genasys.com.

In Orange County, mandatory evacuation orders took effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday near the Airport Fire burn scar, affecting areas of:

-- Trabuco Creek, including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school;

-- Bell Canyon, including Starr Ranch; and

-- Hot Springs Canyon, including Lazy-W Ranch.

A reception center for displaced OC residents was opened at the Foothill Ranch Library Program Annex adjacent to the library at 27002 Cabriole Way. The OC Animal Care shelter at 1630 Victory Road in Tustin was available to care for evacuated residents' small pets. Large animal owners can contact OC Animal Care at 714-935-6848, or 714-259-1122 after hours, for sheltering options.

Road closures in the Orange County evacuation area were in place on Trabuco Canyon Road at Rose Canyon; Plano Trabuco near Robinson Ranch; Grey Rock at Bell Canyon; and Hot Springs Canyon at Ortega Highway.

The city of Los Angeles' Emergency Operations Center was activated Monday in anticipation of the storm and to help coordinate response efforts by the Emergency Management Department, police and fire departments and county Public Works officials.