California's Christmas Storms Lead to Tragedy and Widespread Disruption

Fri Dec 26 2025 03:18:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy rainstorms fueled by atmospheric rivers wreak havoc across California, causing floods, mudslides, and tragic fatalities as emergency services respond to urgent rescue efforts.

As of Christmas night, heavy rainstorms in California have caused severe flooding and landslides, resulting in three confirmed deaths. An atmospheric river has led to over 11 inches of rainfall in some areas, prompting major road closures and evacuations. California's governor declared a state of emergency, while emergency responders worked tirelessly to rescue those stranded.

Heavy rainstorms, intensified by atmospheric rivers, have severely impacted California this holiday season, leading to floods and mudslides that have claimed the lives of three individuals as of Christmas night, according to local officials.

The storms, predicted to persist through Friday, have resulted in 11 inches (27 cm) of rain in some regions, notably in Los Angeles County, causing widespread road closures and forcing evacuations. Emergency responders have conducted multiple rescues, particularly for individuals trapped in vehicles as floodwaters rose. In response to the disaster, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles and surrounding counties.

As of Thursday evening, around 100,000 residents were reported to be without power due to the storm's effects. The US Weather Prediction Center issued alerts for numerous flash flooding events, cautioning that several streams may overflow, potentially affecting larger rivers.

Tragically, one of the deceased was a 64-year-old man from San Diego, who died when a tree fell on him. Another victim, a 74-year-old man, succumbed to floodwaters in Redding while rescuers attempted to save him from his car. Additionally, a woman in her 70s died after being swept into the ocean by a rogue wave at MacKerricher State Park.

Evacuations are underway in parts of San Bernardino County, and residents in the San Francisco Bay area received flash flood warnings Thursday morning. Wind speeds in the Bay area exceeded 100 mph (161 km/h) at certain observatories, exacerbating unsafe conditions.

In Altadena, near Los Angeles, a mudslide occurred due to excessive flooding in an area heavily affected by prior wildfires, which left the soil poorly equipped to absorb the sudden rainfall. Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency, urging all residents to exercise caution on the roads during this critical travel period.

The atmospheric rivers responsible for these torrential rains have carried significant moisture from tropical regions during one of the busiest travel times of the year, according to CBS News reports.