Communities across Southern California are embarking on a colossal clean-up effort following an unprecedented deluge over the Christmas holiday, which transformed parts of the state into a landscape of mud and debris.
A Historic and Destructive Christmas Storm
The region experienced its wettest Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on record, a stark contrast to the severe wildfires that scorched areas like Altadena just a year prior. Scientists describe this rapid shift from extreme dryness to extreme wetness as "hydroclimate whiplash." The culprit was a powerful atmospheric river drawing moisture from the Pacific Ocean.
Rainfall totals were staggering. Santa Barbara airport recorded 5.91 inches, while more than 10 inches fell in sections of the San Gabriel Mountains. The most extreme precipitation was logged in the Ventura county mountains, where a single area saw over 17 inches of rain.
Emergency Response and Widespread Damage
The ferocious weather had severe consequences. It knocked down trees, triggered hundreds of car crashes, and left thousands without power. Mudflows inundated homes and gardens, prompting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to declare a temporary state of emergency.
Emergency services were stretched to their limits. Firefighters in Los Angeles county alone rescued more than 100 people on Thursday, 26 December 2025, with one helicopter airlifting 21 individuals from stranded vehicles. California Governor Gavin Newsom expanded the crisis response, declaring emergencies in multiple counties including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Shasta.
Ongoing Risks and Community Impact
Although the heaviest rains have passed, authorities warn that the danger is not over. The National Weather Service has cautioned of continued risks from flash flooding and mudslides. Meteorologist Mike Wofford in Los Angeles stated, "Still not quite out of the woods, but for the most part, the worst is over."
The human toll was vividly illustrated by residents like Sherry Tocco from the mountain town of Wrightwood. She described to the Los Angeles Times how relentless rain turned roads into raging rivers, burying cars under rocks and mud. "It just came through and destroyed, took everything with it," she said, after being evacuated by firefighters and forced to sleep in her car.
While lowlands battled floods, higher elevations like the Sierra Nevada mountains were blanketed in heavy snow, with rates reaching up to two inches per hour. Forecasters now predict a dry weekend for the beleaguered region before the potential return of rain around New Year's Eve.
