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Los Angeles Orders Evacuations as 'Very Dangerous' Christmas Storm Bears Down

An atmospheric river is expected to bring extreme rain with damaging winds, elevating flash‑flood and landslide risk.

Overview

  • Authorities told residents of more than 380 properties to leave and issued broad evacuation warnings urging people to be ready to move quickly.
  • The National Weather Service called it a very dangerous Christmas storm with gusts near 130 km/h and the heaviest rain expected today and Thursday.
  • Officials warned of urban flooding, flash floods, debris flows and mountain landslides, with Malibu and Pacific Palisades flagged because of recent burn scars.
  • California prepositioned four million sandbags, including 55,000 supersandbags, as the region faces the highest level of flood risk today.
  • Holiday travelers were urged to reconsider trips and prepare for possible power outages and road closures, with heavy Sierra Nevada snowfall also forecast.