Overview
- National Weather Service officials report life‑threatening flooding across Southern California, with inch‑per‑hour downpours and a rare High Risk designation for excessive rainfall.
- Evacuation orders and warnings cover wildfire burn scars in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and other counties, with deputies conducting door‑to‑door notifications and shelters opened.
- Rescue operations unfolded in mountain communities such as Wrightwood and Lytle Creek, where debris flows and washouts trapped residents, and at least one weather‑related death was reported by the CHP.
- More than 165,000 customers lost power early Christmas Day as saturated soils and strong winds toppled trees and power lines, with isolated severe storms also prompting brief tornado alerts.
- Additional rainfall is expected through Friday, with totals reaching 4–7 inches in coastal and valley areas and 6–14 inches in foothills and mountains, while feet of Sierra Nevada snow and chain controls on I‑80 create treacherous travel.