Overview
- Rain is expected to begin Tuesday, peak from Tuesday night into Wednesday, bring a weaker second surge on Christmas Day, and taper by Saturday.
- Forecast totals call for 4–8 inches across coastal and valley areas and roughly 8–12 inches in mountains and foothills.
- Forecasters expect very strong winds with gusts of 40–50 mph at lower elevations and up to 80 mph in the mountains, with snow levels generally above 7,000–7,500 feet.
- Mudslides, debris flows and urban flooding are a primary concern, particularly near recent burn scars including the Eaton and Palisades areas.
- Los Angeles has activated its Emergency Operations Center as agencies distribute sandbags, conduct outreach to unhoused residents, and stage swift-water and helicopter rescue teams, while officials urge drivers to avoid flooded roads and prepare for possible evacuations.