An atmospheric river soaked Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, triggering widespread flash flooding and evacuation orders for communities below wildfire burn scars. Downpours exceeded an inch (2.54 cm) per hour in places, and a flash-flood warning covered much of Los Angeles County until 6 p.m. PST. The NWS reported 4–8 inches of rain in some foothill areas by 9 a.m. PST and warned more than a foot (about 30.5 cm) could fall in some mountain zones by week’s end.
Christmas Eve Atmospheric River Soaks Los Angeles, Sparks Widespread Flooding and Evacuations
Cars drive through puddles as heavy rain falls due to an atmospheric river, in an intersection in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly
LOS ANGELES, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Torrential rains driven by an atmospheric river drenched Southern California on Christmas Eve, producing widespread flash flooding, prompting evacuation orders and urgent warnings for motorists to stay off the roads during the holiday travel period.
A worker moves a tree which fell at the Westfield Topanga shopping centre in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly
In some areas, downpours fell at rates of an inch (2.54 cm) or more per hour as a concentrated, moisture-laden plume pulled from the Pacific moved inland across the greater Los Angeles region. Forecasts said the system would persist into Friday, prolonging hazardous conditions.
Shoppers walk through a parking lot on a rainy Christmas Eve morning at the Westfield Topanga shopping centre in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly
Warnings and Evacuations: The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) labeled conditions "life-threatening," with widespread flash flooding ongoing across Southern California. A flash-flood warning covered much of Los Angeles County until 6 p.m. PST. Authorities urged residents: "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area, subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."
Shoppers walk through a parking lot on a rainy Christmas Eve morning at the Westfield Topanga shopping centre in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly
Los Angeles city officials ordered evacuations for roughly 130 homes in parts of Pacific Palisades considered especially vulnerable to mudslides and debris flows after last year’s wildfires left burn scars above those neighborhoods.
Cars drive through puddles as heavy rain falls due to an atmospheric river, in an intersection in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 24, 2025. REUTERS/Jill Connelly
Rainfall, Winds and Mountain Snow: NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen said 4 to 8 inches of rain had fallen in some foothill areas by 9 a.m. PST, and the Los Angeles City News Service reported numerous rockslides in the mountains. Forecast models called for more than a foot (about 30.5 cm) of rain over some lower-elevation mountain areas by the end of the week. Gusty winds accompanying the storm increased the risk of fallen trees and downed power lines, while higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada were expected to receive heavy mountain snow.
Forecasters even issued a rare tornado warning for a small portion of east-central Los Angeles County because of intense thunderstorm activity near Alhambra.
Residents were advised to follow local evacuation orders, avoid flood-prone areas, and stay tuned to official weather and emergency updates as conditions evolved.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Chris Reese)
