A powerful atmospheric river has unleashed catastrophic flooding and mudslides across California, turning a festive Christmas into a scene of devastation and claiming at least three lives.
Homes and Cars Buried in Mud
In the mountain town of Wrightwood, approximately 80 miles north-east of Los Angeles, dramatic footage shows vehicles and houses submerged up to their windows in thick mud and debris. The San Bernardino County Fire Department reported one injury directly linked to the slide in the community of just under 5,000 residents.
The trigger was an immense deluge, with the National Weather Service recording up to 12 inches (30cm) of rain in the area on Wednesday alone. This overwhelming rainfall washed out roads and prompted local authorities to issue evacuation warnings for Wrightwood, which remained in place into Friday with several access routes closed.
A Stark Contrast and a Deadly Toll
This extreme weather presents a shocking shift from last winter's severe drought, which fuelled devastating wildfires. The storm system has delivered the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in 54 years.
Tragically, the storms have proven fatal. Statewide, at least three people have been killed since the atmospheric river events began earlier this week. The victims include a motorist trapped in a flooded vehicle in Redding, a Sacramento sheriff's deputy in an apparent weather-related crash, and a man in San Diego struck by a falling tree.
Community Resilience Amidst Chaos
In Wrightwood, the storm knocked out power, forcing a local gas station and coffee shop running on generators to become an impromptu community hub. Resident Jill Jenkins, spending the holiday with her grandson, called it "a crazy Christmas."
Her grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo, described how the family almost evacuated when water eroded part of their backyard. They chose to stay, celebrating with card games by candlelight. "We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights," he said.
Other residents displayed remarkable courage. Davey Schneider hiked 1.5 miles (2.4km) through shin-deep floodwater to rescue cats from his grandfather's imperilled house. "I wanted to help them out because I wasn't confident that they were going to live," Schneider stated. Fortunately, all the animals survived.
While some roads turned into rivers, resident Arlene Corte found perspective, noting her house was undamaged. "It could be a whole lot worse," she said. "We're here talking."
State of Emergency and Ongoing Threats
With more rain forecast, emergency services are on high alert. Over 150 firefighters are stationed in the area, according to San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson Shawn Millerick, who affirmed, "We're ready. It's all hands on deck at this point."
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in six counties to expedite state assistance. Resources and first responders have been deployed to several coastal and southern counties, with the California National Guard placed on standby.
The severe weather continues to disrupt travel during one of the year's busiest weeks. Flood watches were issued for coastal areas like Malibu, while wind and flood advisories covered much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. The Sierra Nevada faces heavy snow and treacherous "near white-out conditions."
Meteorologist Mike Wofford of the National Weather Service highlighted the anomaly, noting Southern California typically sees half an inch to an inch of rain at this time of year. This week, many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches, with even higher totals in the mountains.
