Severe rainstorms sweeping across large areas of California have caused flooding and mudslides, leaving at least three people dead as of Christmas night, according to local authorities.
The storms, driven by multiple atmospheric rivers, have dumped heavy rainfall across the state and were forecast to continue through Friday. In parts of Los Angeles County, rainfall totals reached up to 11 inches (27 cm), overwhelming drainage systems, triggering evacuations, and forcing the closure of major highways.
Emergency services have carried out numerous rescue operations, including saving motorists trapped in vehicles as floodwaters rapidly rose. In response to the deteriorating conditions, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for Los Angeles and several other southern California counties.
Power outages were widespread, with around 100,000 residents across the state without electricity as of Thursday evening.
The US Weather Prediction Center warned that the situation remains dangerous, noting the high likelihood of flash flooding and the potential for smaller streams to overflow and impact larger rivers.
Among the fatalities, a 64-year-old man in San Diego died after being struck by a falling tree on Wednesday morning. In northern California, a 74-year-old man lost his life after floodwaters engulfed his vehicle in Redding while police attempted a rescue. Earlier in the week, a woman in her 70s died in Mendocino County after being swept into the ocean by a powerful wave at MacKerricher State Park.
Evacuation alerts were issued for parts of San Bernardino County, while flash flood warnings were in effect across the San Francisco Bay Area. Strong winds compounded the danger, with gusts exceeding 100 mph (161 km/h) recorded near San Jose, according to local reports.
In Altadena, near Los Angeles, flooding triggered a mudslide in an area recently affected by wildfires, where damaged vegetation reduced the ground’s ability to absorb water.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also declared a local emergency and urged residents to limit travel during the busy holiday period. She warned that the storms pose serious risks and called on the public to exercise extreme caution.
Meteorologists say the severe weather is the result of successive atmospheric rivers carrying tropical moisture to the US West Coast during one of the peak travel weeks of the year.
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