A powerful winter storm that swept across California over Christmas week has left at least three people dead and caused widespread power outages, flooding and travel disruptions, with forecasters warning that more heavy rain is on the way.
A state of emergency declared by Governor Gavin Newsom remains in effect for Los Angeles and five surrounding counties. The US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Moderate Risk alert for excessive rainfall in those areas, cautioning that “numerous flash flooding events” could occur.
According to the NWS, almost the entire state, from Eureka in the north to San Diego in the south, faces some level of risk from excessive rainfall through Thursday. Southern California is expected to see the worst of it, with a 40 percent or higher chance of heavy rain through Friday morning that could trigger flash floods.
The NWS office in Los Angeles said the areas most vulnerable to “life‑threatening floods, rockslides and mudslides” stretch from southeast Santa Barbara County through Ventura County and into central Los Angeles County.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) said in a Thursday update that the storm brought intense rain, snow and wind gusts reaching 92 mph overnight, contributing to widespread power outages. On Christmas morning, more than 110,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, particularly in coastal counties such as Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Monterey. PG&E said crews have restored power to more than 383,000 customers since the storm began.
Southern California saw record‑breaking rainfall on Wednesday, while areas previously damaged by wildfires reported mudslides. Northern California was hit by another storm overnight, bringing heavy snowfall and forcing authorities to require tire chains on mountain roads. The Associated Press reported “near white‑out conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada, and officials warned of a significant avalanche risk near Lake Tahoe.
Storm‑related deaths
Local media report that at least three people have died during the storm. The latest victim was a 64‑year‑old man in San Diego who was struck by a falling tree on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy died after losing control of his vehicle on a rain‑soaked road and crashing into a power pole.
What is driving the storm?
Meteorologists say the heavy rains are linked to a strong atmospheric river known as the “Pineapple Express,” which carries warm, moisture‑rich air from near Hawaii across the Pacific Ocean to the US West Coast. Atmospheric rivers are a common source of rainfall in California, but the most intense ones can produce extreme downpours and flooding.