Heavy rain storms across large parts of California triggered floods and mudslides, resulting in three fatalities as of Christmas night, local officials reported.
The storms, which are expected to persist through Friday, brought as much as 11 inches (27 cms) of rainfall to certain areas in Los Angeles County, prompting evacuations and the closure of major roadways. Emergency responders have undertaken multiple rescues, assisting individuals trapped in vehicles as floodwaters rise. In response to the situation, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in Los Angeles and other counties in Southern California.
As of Thursday evening, around 100,000 residents were without power. The US Weather Prediction Center warned of numerous flash flooding events being likely, and cautioned that many streams could flood, potentially impacting larger rivers.
Among the deceased was a 64-year-old man from San Diego, who died early Wednesday when a tree fell on him, and a 74-year-old, who succumbed to floodwaters during a police rescue attempt in Redding.
Additionally, a woman in her 70s perished after being swept into the ocean while on a rock at MacKerricher State Park earlier in the week.
Evacuation warnings are currently in place for some residents in San Bernardino County, alongside flash flood alerts for the San Francisco Bay area, which recorded wind speeds exceeding 100 mph (161 km/h) at a nearby observatory.
Flooding in Altadena, near Los Angeles, led to a mudslide in an area previously compromised by wildfires, hampering water absorption capacity. Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the urgency of caution during this chaotic travel period over the holidays, urging residents to take the storm seriously.
The storms have arisen from multiple atmospheric rivers carrying significant moisture from tropical regions, coinciding with one of the year's busiest travel weeks.
