Heavy rain hit Southern California on Christmas Eve, causing flooding, mudslides, and power outages across the region. In Wrightwood, a mountain community northeast of Los Angeles, emergency crews rescued dozens of people overnight as water and mud rushed past homes. More than 120 responders worked through the night, and although no deaths were reported in that area, one child was taken to the hospital with a minor injury. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as over 100,000 customers lost power and major roads flooded. Some areas near Los Angeles saw up to 10 inches of rain, breaking Christmas Eve rainfall records at several airports and cities.
The storm also led to two deaths: a San Diego man killed by a falling tree branch and a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy who died in a weather-related crash. Flooded highways and debris forced road closures across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Northern California. While California dealt with flooding, the Northeast prepared for a winter storm expected to bring snow, freezing rain, and dangerous travel from Pennsylvania to New England. Forecasters warned that icy conditions could last into Saturday as the storm system moves across the country.