Overview
- NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center posts a high flash‑flood risk for the Transverse Ranges on Wednesday, while NWS flood and winter alerts remain in effect across much of California.
- Los Angeles issues evacuation warnings for burn‑scar areas including Palisades, Sunset and Hurst, with 4–8 inches of rain forecast in the basin and higher totals on mountain slopes.
- Northern California has already seen serious impacts, including a drowning in Redding, the closure of U.S. 101 near Loleta, and halted flights at San Francisco International Airport.
- The Sierra Nevada faces multi‑foot snowfall through Friday under winter‑storm warnings, with some higher elevations forecast to reach several feet and ridge gusts near 100 mph.
- Successive heavy rain bands and strong winds threaten dangerous debris flows and major travel disruptions through Christmas Day, with additional showers and flooding risks lingering into the weekend.