Southern California faced intense rainfall on Wednesday as an atmospheric river—a weather phenomenon carrying massive amounts of water vapor from the Pacific—swept across the region.
In some areas, rainfall exceeded 2.5 cm per hour, prompting urgent warnings from authorities.
Residents in foothills and valleys affected by previous wildfires were urged to evacuate to safer areas, while drivers were advised to avoid travel amid hazardous conditions.
Los Angeles city officials specifically highlighted about 130 homes in the Pacific Palisades region at high risk of mudslides and debris flows.
The heavy rain was accompanied by strong winds, raising concerns over falling trees and downed power lines. In addition, meteorologists issued a rare tornado warning for the Alhambra area due to intense thunderstorm activity.
The U.S. National Weather Service warned that “life-threatening” storm conditions are expected to persist through Christmas Day, creating further hazards during the busy holiday period.
