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A powerful winter storm brought rain that spread across the country Southern California The low began to subside, but another storm system was on the horizon with rain and possible tornadoes on Christmas Day.
Forecasters said Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned of flash flooding and mudslides. There were warnings to evacuate areas scorched by wildfires in January as heavy rains and strong winds triggered landslides and debris flows.
Many flood areas were in burn scar areas, where vegetation had been destroyed by the fire and was less able to absorb water.
San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars on Wednesday when mud and debris covered a road leading to Wrightwood, a resort town about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of the San Gabriel Mountains. los angelesIt was not immediately clear how many people were rescued,
Firefighters also went door-to-door to check homes and the area was under a shelter-in-place order, officials said. An evacuation order was also issued for Little Creek in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Travis Guenther and his family were trapped in Little Creek after fierce waters swept away the only bridge in or out of their neighborhood. More than a dozen neighbors took shelter in a community center or found hotel rooms.
“Everyone who went to work this morning is stuck,” he said. “Half the families are here, and half the families are on the other side of the bay.”
Guenther said they have enough supplies and are coordinating with others in the community of about 280 people. Two nurses who lived on her street offered to help anyone who needed medical attention.
Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a 45-year resident of the mountain town, said the 2024 wildfires had stripped much of the area of tree coverage.
The storm trapped Dylan Brown, his wife, and 14-month-old daughter in a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers to last another day. Roads leading from the mountain to the grocery store were blocked by rocks and debris, Brown said.
One resident became aware of his situation and posted a call for help in a Facebook group. In less than an hour, neighbors delivered more than enough supplies to weather the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes.
“I think we’re a little sad and upset that we’re not going to be home with our families, but the kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling,” Brown said.
heavy rain
Nearby residents burnt to death due to fire at airport Orange County Orders were also given to evacuate.
Areas near the coast, including Malibu, were under flood warnings as of Wednesday evening, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
Several roads were closed due to flooding, including a portion of Interstate 5 near Burbank Airport.
These storms were the result of several atmospheric rivers carrying large amounts of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said Southern California typically gets a half-inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but many areas could get between 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain this week, with even more in the mountains.
Ice high altitude
Heavy snowfall and thunderstorms created “near white-out conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada and made mountain passes dangerous. Officials said there was a “significant” avalanche danger around Lake Tahoe, and a winter storm warning was in effect until Friday morning.
Governor Gavin Newsom A state of emergency was declared in six counties to allow state assistance in response to the storm.
The state deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.
The California Highway Patrol reported a weather-related crash south of Sacramento that killed a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy. James Caravello, who had been with the agency for 19 years, was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on the wet road and struck a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.
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Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento, Jessica Hill in Las Vegas and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.