Flash floods occur across southern California as powerful Christmas storm hits

Flash flood warnings were in effect in Los Angeles and most of southern California on Wednesday as one of the worst Christmas storms in recent memory brought heavy rain and fears of deadly mudslides.

Driven by an atmospheric river known as "the Pineapple Express," which moves heavy moisture from the tropical climes of Hawaii to rain on the West Coast, the storm is expected to deliver months' worth of rain over the next few days.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles, to facilitate the rapid mobilization and allocation of resources if needed.

"Life-threatening flash flooding continues over Southern California today and tomorrow; heavy mountain snow and high winds also ongoing," the National Weather Service (NWS) said, adding that "lives and property are in great danger."

The first burst of heavy rain hit the region Tuesday night, leaving Los Angeles with fallen trees and some debris in the streets, as well as minor flooding that hampered traffic.

The rainfall intensified early Wednesday, leaving thousands of people in southern California without power due to downed lines caused by the fury of the Christmas storm.

Late Wednesday the first storm moved out of the Los Angeles area, "but another storm is expected to move in later tonight into Christmas Day," weather officials warned.

Some communities already received 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of rain in the first storm, forecasters said.

Across the state, some 80,000 homes and businesses had no electricity heading into Christmas Eve, according to tracking site Poweroutage.us.

Fire burn scars and the communities near them across the state are under special alert, including the coastal areas of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, as they are still recovering from the devastating wildfires in January.

Due to fire damage, the terrain is susceptible to mudslides from heavy rain.

While many were still hoping to drive to spend the holidays with family, transportation officials were busy announcing road and freeway closures due to flooding, fallen trees and mud flows across Southern California.

The Red Cross opened shelters in several communities as some residents in Southern California received immediate evacuation orders.

Authorities were responding to a series of accidents Wednesday, and several major roads were closed due to flash flood warnings.

Ariel Cohen, an NWS meteorologist, warned that from Wednesday afternoon through Friday, "many areas will likely experience significant flooding, along with rockslides and mudslides, especially in the higher elevations."

"If you were planning to travel on the roads during Christmas, please reconsider your plans," he added.

- 'Doesn't feel safe' -

However, many Angelenos were still out and about Wednesday, buying last-minute gifts, grocery shopping, even jogging.

For some though, Christmas travel was upended.

"We decided to stay home," said Jim Lewis, who opted against going to his cousins in nearby Pasadena and was doing last-minute shopping in the city instead.

"We've been receiving all these alerts, it doesn't feel safe, I don't feel like driving there at dark," he told AFP.

Larissa Peet, who was planning a party, said her celebration was still on.

"Nothing that we're doing differently. Just hanging out, eating, drinking and having a good time," she said.

In addition to the threat of flooding, meteorologists are forecasting wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour (nearly 130 kilometers per hour) in the mountains and deserts of Los Angeles County.

Some Californian communities are still reeling from thousands of wildfires that killed 31 people across the state during 2025, including residential neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

In the Sierra Nevada range along the eastern border of California, more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow had already fallen this week, with up to five feet forecast before the storm is through.