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| Image: “Rainbow and Complex Clouds” by NOAA via Picryl (public domain) |
The storms, driven by multiple atmospheric rivers, dumped up to 11 inches of rain in parts of Los Angeles County and were forecast to continue through Friday. The rainfall prompted evacuations, closed major roadways, and led to emergency rescues as floodwaters trapped motorists.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday for Los Angeles and other Southern California counties, citing the strain on emergency services during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
By Thursday evening, about 100,000 customers statewide were without electricity. The U.S. Weather Prediction Center warned that numerous flash flooding events were possible, with smaller waterways expected to overflow and potentially affect larger rivers.
Authorities confirmed three storm-related deaths across the state. In San Diego, a 64-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning when a tree fell on him, police said. In Northern California, a 74-year-old man died in Redding after floodwaters overtook his vehicle during a rescue attempt, according to the city’s mayor.
Earlier in the week, a woman in her 70s died along the Mendocino County coast after being swept into the ocean by a large wave at MacKerricher State Park, the sheriff’s office said.
Evacuation warnings were issued in parts of San Bernardino County, while flash flood warnings remained in effect Thursday morning in the San Francisco Bay Area. Wind speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour at an observatory near San Jose, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
In Altadena, near Los Angeles, a mudslide struck a burn scar area left vulnerable by recent wildfires, according to CBS News. Officials said such areas face heightened flood risks because fire-damaged ground absorbs less water.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency and urged residents to exercise caution during holiday travel, warning that conditions could change rapidly.
Forecasters said the storms were fueled by atmospheric rivers carrying large amounts of tropical moisture, creating hazardous conditions across much of California.
