Southern California was battered by intense rainfall on Wednesday as a powerful winter storm system unleashed flash flooding, mud flows, and dangerous travel conditions across the region, prompting evacuations and emergency rescues, authorities said.
Emergency crews responded to dozens of calls in the mountain community of Wrightwood, east of Los Angeles, where rising waters stranded motorists and flooded roads. Firefighters and rescue teams pulled drivers from submerged vehicles throughout the day, according to officials with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. No injuries or fatalities were reported as of Wednesday night.
Aerial footage released by emergency services showed torrents of mud and debris sweeping through residential areas, inundating cabins and mountain roads. Officials warned residents in flood-prone zones to evacuate if ordered or remain indoors as conditions deteriorated.
Atmospheric River Fuels Intense Rainfall
The severe weather was driven by an atmospheric river—a dense stream of moisture originating over the Pacific Ocean—that delivered intense downpours across the greater Los Angeles area. In some locations, rainfall exceeded one inch per hour, overwhelming drainage systems and triggering flash floods.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said the storm, which struck on Christmas Eve, was expected to continue into Friday, creating hazardous conditions during what is typically a peak holiday travel period. Meteorologists described the storm as potentially life-threatening, with widespread flooding already underway across Southern California.
Flash-flood warnings covered large portions of Los Angeles County through Wednesday evening. Officials urged drivers to avoid travel unless evacuating from flooded areas, emphasizing that roads could become impassable with little warning.
Evacuations and Road Closures Ordered
Los Angeles city officials issued evacuation orders for approximately 130 homes in areas at high risk of mudslides and debris flows, particularly neighborhoods affected by last year’s wildfires in Pacific Palisades. Burn scars left by wildfires are especially vulnerable to runoff and slope failures during heavy rain.
In Wrightwood, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initially advised residents to evacuate but later upgraded the notice to a shelter-in-place order as flooding intensified. Portions of the Angeles Crest Highway, a key route through the San Gabriel Mountains, were shut down due to standing water and debris.
High Winds, Snow, and Rare Tornado Warning
The storm also brought strong, gusty winds that knocked down trees and power lines in several areas. At higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada, heavy snowfall was forecast, raising concerns about difficult mountain travel.
Meteorologists reported that some foothill communities had already received between 4 and 8 inches of rain by Wednesday morning, with the potential for more than a foot of rain in certain mountain regions by the end of the week. Numerous rockslides were reported in mountainous terrain.
In an unusual development, forecasters issued a rare tornado warning for a small area of east-central Los Angeles County after severe thunderstorms moved over the city of Alhambra.
Rainfall eased in some areas by Wednesday night, but forecasters warned that a second wave of the storm system was expected to arrive Thursday, potentially renewing flooding and mudslide risks.
Authorities continued to urge residents to monitor weather alerts, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow evacuation or shelter instructions as the storm system moves through the region.