Southern California Faces Severe Impacts from Atmospheric River Storm
Southern California is experiencing significant disruptions due to an atmospheric river storm causing severe flooding and landslides across the region. The storm resulted in at least three deaths, including a 64-year-old man who was killed when a 75-foot tree fell in City Heights, San Diego. A woman was also swept nine miles down San Jose Creek before being rescued; her identity has not been disclosed.
More than 11 inches of rainfall was recorded in parts of Los Angeles County by Wednesday night. Due to the heavy rain, a flood watch has been extended through Thursday for nearly the entire area. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about a moderate risk of excessive rainfall that could cause numerous flash floods and potential stream flooding.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County and other southern California counties because of the heightened risk of flooding and landslides. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also declared a local emergency and urged residents to follow guidance and emergency alerts. Evacuation warnings were issued for mountain communities in San Bernardino County, and about 130 homes in the Pacific Palisades area were evacuated due to potential mudslides and debris flows linked to last year’s wildfires.
Additional hazards have included closures of the Angeles Crest Highway, rockslides in mountain areas, and a rare tornado warning issued for east-central Los Angeles County near Alhambra, where 4 to 8 inches of rain were expected in foothill regions. The storm is forecast to persist through the Christmas holiday until Saturday, with a second wave anticipated to arrive on Thursday.
