Powerful storm will dump heavy rain on Los Angeles, threatening flash floods during Christmas holiday
Los Angeles braces for potentially deadly Christmas‑season storms
A heavy‑rain system that has been tracking offshore is expected to hit southern California early Wednesday, bringing some of the wettest holiday weather on record for the Los Angeles area.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has lifted the flash‑flood alert to a rare Level 4 out of 4 “High Risk” for a swath of cities north of L.A. – Santa Clarita, Burbank, and Glendale – and a Level 3 warning for the city itself. Official forecasts say residents could see 3–5 inches of rain in a single 24‑hour period, a volume that could overwhelm street drains and trigger flash floods overnight.
Flash‑flood warnings are already in effect in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and the Los Angeles Fire Department has issued advisory notices for debris flow evacuation around the burn‑scar zones from last month’s wildfires. Ash‑laden soils become slick and water‑repellent, increasing the risk of mudslides when saturating rains hit.
City officials have urged people to stay updated, especially as they prepare for Christmas Eve celebrations. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has placed sandbags in Altadena and other vulnerable neighborhoods, and residents can check current evacuation orders on the city’s emergency website.
The storm isn’t only about rain. Meteorologists say the atmospheric instability feeding the system could spark vigorous thunderstorms and even produce tornadoes. Coastal wind gusts might reach 80 mph, and wind alerts have been issued along most of the California shoreline through Thursday. The same weather pattern that delivered deadly floods in northern California over the weekend is now moving onto the coast.
Airports should brace for delays: San Francisco International and Los Angeles International might see continued disruptions as the storm tracks across the state. A Level 2 flash‑flood risk covers San Luis Obispo and stretches north of Los Angeles through Thursday, while flood watches remain active statewide through Friday.
“High Risk” events occur on roughly 4 % of days, yet they account for a disproportionately large share of flood deaths (39 %) and damage (83 %) in the continental U.S., research from the Weather Prediction Center shows. In fact, 6 % of high‑risk days have at least one fatality or injury, and 62 % result in more than $1 million in damage.
Drivers heading up the Sierras should consider that mountain passes could close, and hazardous conditions may persist from Tuesday to Friday. Snowfall is expected to accumulate up to 11 inches, with snow levels descending to 5,000 ft. Winter Weather Alerts cover the range through Friday.
For those on the go or at home, keep an eye on the FOX Weather app for real‑time alerts, and monitor any official National Weather Service messages about potential flash flooding in your area.
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