Nearly half of Los Angeles’ yearly rainfall fell in just three days during a record‑setting Christmas storm, turning streets into rivers and flooding the city in a way that feels like something out of a nightmare.
Weather Nation TV warned that some neighborhoods got as much as six inches of rain in a very short period, while the city’s typical annual precipitation usually ranges from 12 to 18 inches. In the footage that’s circulating online, cars are seen splashing through inches of water, and the Los Angeles River—normally a modest stream—swelled to nearly overflowing its banks.
The deluge prompted evacuation orders across the region this week. Southern California is still trying to recover from devastating wildfires that tore through many communities earlier in the year, and the sudden surge of water created mudslides and heavy flooding that caught residents off guard.
The storm has already taken at least three lives. Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy James Caravallo lost his vehicle on a slick road and crashed—his body was recovered at the scene. In San Diego, 64‑year‑old Roberto Ruiz died when a fallen tree struck him amid the high‑wind conditions. In Redding, 74‑year‑old Richard Michael Wilsey drowned after his vehicle lost control in the floodwaters.
The tragedy highlights how quickly weather can change and underscores the vulnerability of cities that have recently endured wildfire damage. Residents and officials are advised to keep an eye on weather updates and to heed evacuation notices promptly.
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