A powerful and rare winter storm is battering Southern California, leading to a third confirmed fatality and prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency for Los Angeles and surrounding counties. The storm, which arrived on December 23 and is expected to last through Christmas until Saturday, is dumping multiple months' worth of rain in just days, triggering widespread flood watches, evacuations, and significant travel disruptions.
State of Emergency and Escalating Dangers
Governor Gavin Newsom's emergency proclamation underscores the severity of the situation. The state has mobilized substantial resources in response, pre-positioning 55 fire engines and 10 swiftwater rescue teams across vulnerable areas. The storm's intensity has already forced evacuations in canyon communities within Los Angeles County and Orange County, while causing road closures, flooded freeways, and flight delays during the busy holiday period.
Utility companies are grappling with widespread power outages. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported approximately 10,700 customers without power on Wednesday morning due to storm debris, with Southern California Edison also confirming outages. A section of the crucial Angeles Crest Highway north of La Cañada Flintridge was closed due to hazardous conditions.
Burn Scars Pose Critical Landslide Threat
A particularly grave concern is the heightened risk in areas recently devastated by wildfires, such as Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The U.S. Weather Prediction Center has warned of a moderate risk of excessive rainfall leading to numerous flash flooding events and potential river flooding.
The charred, barren land in these burn scars has become hydrophobic, meaning it repels water rather than absorbing it. This dramatically increases the risk of dangerous mudslides, landslides, and debris flows as rainwater runs off the hardened soil like concrete. Meteorologist Scott Kleebauer from the Weather Prediction Center noted that this elevated risk can persist for four to five years after a major fire until vegetation recovers.
Historic Storm Disrupts Christmas Holiday
The historic nature of this December storm is disrupting the Christmas holiday for millions. Residents in affected areas, like Wrightwood, are already dealing with flooded homes, sweeping out mud and water. The Los Angeles River swelled to high levels, with onlookers witnessing its rapid rise after the heavy rains on December 24.
With the flood watch extended across most of Southern California and the storm system continuing to pummel the region, officials are urging extreme caution. The combination of saturated ground, relentless precipitation, and vulnerable burn scars creates a perfect storm for further destruction, making community preparedness and heeding evacuation orders paramount for safety.
