Imagine waking up on Christmas Eve to the roar of relentless rain pounding your roof, only to realize your holiday dreams might be washed away by a monster storm— that's the harsh reality hitting California right now, and it's got everyone on edge.
Updated on: December 24, 2025 / 8:00 PM EST / CBS/AP
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A fierce winter tempest barreled through California on Wednesday, unleashing torrential downpours and fierce gusts that triggered debris flows—think fast-moving rivers of mud and rocks tumbling down hillsides. This chaos has already sparked several daring water rescues and prompted urgent evacuation alerts to keep people safe.
Weather experts are sounding the alarm that Southern California might experience its soggiest Christmas in decades, with serious risks of sudden flash floods and destructive mudslides. For beginners, flash flooding happens when heavy rain overwhelms dry ground, turning streets into rushing streams in minutes—it's why staying alert is crucial. Areas still scarred from the wildfires that raged in January are particularly at risk; officials in Los Angeles County issued around 380 evacuation notices on Tuesday, targeting homes most prone to danger in those burn zones.
Just this morning, early Wednesday, the Los Angeles Fire Department sprang into action, pulling a man from a drainage tunnel in northwest LA that feeds into a nearby river. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt, but paramedics are checking him out to make sure he's okay.
Across the state, numerous roads have been shut down as floodwaters make them impassable, stranding drivers and complicating commutes.
In a proactive move, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Wednesday for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and even Shasta counties up north (you can see his announcement here: https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/2003909260019921304). This declaration unlocks special powers for emergency teams and allows resources to be stockpiled in advance, ensuring a quicker response when things get dicey.
The onslaught started late Tuesday night and ramped up by Christmas Eve. With millions of folks planning trips across California during this peak holiday rush, officials are cautioning that travel could turn treacherous—or outright impossible. The National Weather Service is predicting a series of atmospheric rivers slamming into the state, which could pile on even more misery.
But here's where it gets really intense: forecasters say conditions might deteriorate further as these multiple atmospheric rivers—essentially, sky-high highways of moisture—churn through during one of the year's busiest travel periods. In Los Angeles, the storm built strength all Wednesday, though it's expected to ease up later tonight.
And this is the part most people miss: what exactly is an atmospheric river? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, at https://www.noaa.gov/stories/what-are-atmospheric-rivers), it's like a massive, elongated plume of water vapor stretching from the tropics over the ocean. Powerful winds act like a conveyor belt, funneling this vapor toward places like California's coast, where it dumps out as heavy rain or snow. For example, think of it as nature's firehose turned on full blast—fascinating, but not when it's flooding your backyard.
Winds in Los Angeles County whipped up over 60 mph, toppling trees and snapping power lines, as noted by Ariel Cohen, the lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service (via CBS Los Angeles coverage at https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/heavy-rain-storm-southern-california-burn-scar-flooding-evacuation-orders/). She couldn't stress enough: "Please heed these warnings—the rain's buildup will create ever-more hazardous, potentially deadly situations through the holidays."
Take Claire Hamano, a Malibu local who shared her worries with CBS Los Angeles on Monday (see: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/southern-california-widespread-rain-christmas-holiday/). She's stocking her car with sandbags from a county handout spot, fearing landslides could block escape routes near her place. "If slides hit the Pacific Coast Highway, we're stuck—no way out, and that's my nightmare," she explained. "I'm just trying to keep mud from invading my street and property."
Normally, Southern California sees just a half-inch to an inch of rain around now, but this week's forecast calls for 4 to 8 inches in many spots, per National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford— and even heavier amounts up in the mountains. Winds along the central coast could howl at 60 to 80 mph, adding to the mayhem.
Beyond blackouts from fallen lines and blocked roads from debris, expect widespread closures of highways and delays at airports, turning holiday getaways into logistical headaches.
Evacuation alerts sweep Southern California
CBS Los Angeles reports that sections of Los Angeles and Orange counties, especially those ravaged by recent wildfires, are under mandatory evacuations (details at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-winter-storm-threaten-homes-holiday-travel-heavy-rain-flooding/). Many residents in these fragile burn scar areas—where soil can't absorb water anymore, leading to faster runoff and slides—chose to hunker down despite the notices, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. He's pleading with them to think again.
"This storm's dangers are very real and closing in fast," McDonnell emphasized, a sentiment mirrored by L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.
"If you ignore the order and stay put, escaping might become impossible once the rains hit hard," Luna added on Tuesday.
To fight back, Los Angeles County has erected K-rails—those sturdy concrete barriers you see on highways—to trap sliding debris in burn areas. Plus, free sandbags are available for residents to shield their homes, as explained by Kathryn Barger, a county supervisor for Altadena, where the Eaton Fire scorched vast swaths last January.
Brinda Kimpton, whose house miraculously endured that Eaton Fire (images and more at https://www.cbsnews.com/news/palisades-fire-los-angeles-california-blazes-images/), confessed to CBS News she's on pins and needles about the downpours. Though urged to leave, she's opting to stay for now. "Mud and debris already overran the K-rails," she noted Wednesday, sighing, "It's been one wild year."
Local and state leaders are mobilizing for the long haul, deploying aid and first responders to coastal and Southern counties. The California National Guard stands ready to jump in wherever needed.
L.A. County's mountain towns take a pounding from the storm
Up in San Bernardino County, firefighters pulled off heroic saves Wednesday, freeing folks stuck in vehicles as mud and rubble surged down roads into Wrightwood—a cozy mountain getaway in the San Gabriel range, roughly 80 miles northeast of LA. Exact numbers of rescues aren't confirmed yet.
County fire videos captured the drama: mudslides barreling down streets and swift waters surging onto home porches.
By Wednesday afternoon, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department ordered everyone in Wrightwood to shelter in place (more at https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/wrightwood-highway-2-flooded-debris-mud-flow-evacuation-warnings/). Highway 2, the main route in, got wiped out by floods, per the fire department.
The storm trapped Dillan Brown, his wife, and their 14-month-old daughter in a rented Wrightwood cabin, with scant food and diapers running low. By morning, escape roads to stores were barricaded by boulders and sludge, he recounted.
"I saw a car get swept away by the current on one path and knew we were cut off," Brown shared.
Word spread via a local resident's Facebook plea, and within an hour, neighbors arrived laden with essentials—bread, veggies, milk, diapers, wipes—to tide them over. "We're bummed about missing family time back home," Brown admitted, "but this outpouring of kindness? It's truly heartwarming."
A 2024 wildfire stripped the area bare of trees, explained Janice Quick, Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce president and 45-year resident. "All this water is flushing tons of loose dirt and debris from the slopes," she said.
Meanwhile, folks near Orange County's Airport Fire burn scars got evacuation orders early Wednesday.
Flood watches blanket Northern California
Up north, the storm's already wreaked havoc, sparking flash floods that required water rescues and, tragically, claimed at least one life (AP coverage: https://apnews.com/article/flooding-california-weather-death-redding-cf910d888bc6dbe48118d2159c63b6f1).
The Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area face flood watches and high wind alerts until Friday. Experts predict heavy snowfalls, with gusts whipping up "near white-out" blizzards in the Sierra Nevada on Wednesday—making mountain passes all but undrivable, like trying to navigate through a blinding fog of flakes.
A winter storm warning blankets the Greater Tahoe area until Friday morning, per the National Weather Service.
Over 125,000 customers were in the dark Wednesday morning after a power pole failure, reports Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
There's even a chance for fierce thunderstorms and rare twisters along the northern coastline—unusual for winter, but this storm's full of surprises.
Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson declared an emergency Monday to brace for more rain, tapping state aid for cleanup, hazard prevention, and rescues.
In related topics:
* Weather Forecast (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/weather-forecast/)
* Los Angeles (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/los-angeles/)
* Winter Storm (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/winter-storm/)
* Southern California (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/southern-california/)
* California (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/california/)
* Flooding (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/flooding/)
Now, here's a bold take that might ruffle feathers: while these atmospheric rivers are a boon for ending California's drought, could the real controversy be how wildfires—fueled by climate change—make every big rain a potential disaster? Some argue we're not investing enough in prevention, like better forest management or home hardening. What do you think— is this storm a wake-up call for tougher policies, or just bad luck? Drop your thoughts in the comments: agree, disagree, or share your own storm stories!
