Heavy rain storms in California leave three dead

December 25, 2025

Severe rainstorms fueled by atmospheric rivers have battered California, causing devastating floods and mudslides that claimed three lives by Christmas night. Some areas of Los Angeles County received nearly a foot of rain, forcing evacuations, closing major highways, and leaving approximately 100,000 residents without electricity by Thursday evening. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles and other southern California counties, while emergency crews conducted multiple water rescues of people trapped in vehicles.

Who is affected

Three deceased individuals: a 64-year-old man from San Diego, a 74-year-old person in Redding, and a woman in her 70s in Mendocino County
Approximately 100,000 California residents without power
Residents of San Bernardino County under evacuation warnings
Residents in the San Francisco Bay area under flash flood warnings
Los Angeles County residents, particularly those in Altadena near wildfire-affected areas
People trapped in vehicles requiring emergency rescue
Holiday travelers throughout California

What action is being taken

Emergency responders are performing rescues of people stuck in vehicles in flood waters
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and other southern California counties
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has declared a local emergency and is warning residents about road safety
Evacuation warnings are in effect for San Bernardino County residents
Flash flood warnings are issued for San Francisco Bay area residents

Why it matters

The storms pose life-threatening risks during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with multiple atmospheric rivers delivering tropical moisture to California. The timing is particularly dangerous as heavy holiday traffic combines with hazardous road conditions from flooding and mudslides. Areas previously damaged by wildfires, such as Altadena, face heightened vulnerability to mudslides because vegetation loss has reduced the land's ability to absorb water, creating compounding disaster risks.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC