Photo by Jessica Christian on Unsplash.
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Southern California woke up this week to a holiday surprise, and it wasn’t under the Christmas tree. A powerful Christmas storm drenched the region, delivering one of the wettest Christmas periods in recent memory – the wettest in 54 years – and smashing daily rainfall records from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.
Freeways flooded, hillsides gave way, and umbrellas became the must-have accessory of Christmas day as the Pineapple Express–driven system poured nearly four inches of rain in some areas. And while the worst has moved on, the rainy weather isn’t quite over yet.
💧 Record-Breaking Christmas Rainfall Totals
Here’s how much rain fell on Wednesday, and how big some of those records were:
LAX: 1.88 inches Burbank Airport: 3.39 inches Woodland Hills: 3.96 inches Oxnard: 3.33 inches Santa Barbara: 3.31 inches Anaheim: 1.87 inches
The downpour flooded roadways, triggered mudslides, and prompted a handful of evacuations across the region.
⚠️ Emergency Declaration
With soils fully saturated and slopes unstable, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties.
Governor Newsom stated in his Proclamation of Emergency, “California is acting early and decisively to do all we can to get ahead of dangerous winter storms. The state has pre-positioned resources, activated emergency authorities, and we are working closely with local partners to protect communities and keep Californians safe.”
The move allows rapid deployment of state resources, support for local governments, and National Guard activation if needed. Officials warn of continued risks of:
Flooding Landslides Debris flows Rapidly rising creeks and rivers A flood watch remains in effect until Friday afternoon. 🛟 How to Stay Safe During the Aftermath
Even though the heavy rain has passed, the ground is saturated and hazards remain. Here are a few ways to stay safe:
Avoid driving through pooled or moving water — just 6 inches can sweep a car away Stay away from canyon roads, burn scar areas, and steep hillsides prone to slides Keep an emergency kit handy (flashlight, batteries, bottled water, chargers) Don’t walk near swollen rivers, creeks, or storm drains Check Caltrans QuickMap or local alerts before hitting the road If you live near a hillside, monitor for cracks, leaning trees, or unusual runoff 🌥️ What’s Next in the Forecast?
The core of the storm has moved out, but showers may still linger. By the weekend the rain is expected to taper off and sunshine may return.
It was the soggiest Christmas in recent memory, but brighter days are ahead, L.A.!