A powerful and deadly storm slammed California over the Christmas holiday, unleashing torrential floodwaters that claimed the lives of three people, including a dedicated sheriff’s deputy in Southern California. The Christmas Eve storm brought record-breaking rainfall, triggering mass evacuations, widespread road closures, and power outages across multiple counties. With a second storm hitting Northern California on Christmas Day, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as first responders grappled with the ongoing threat of landslides and saturated burn scars.
Story Highlights
- Three fatalities, including a sheriff’s deputy, in Southern California floodwaters from a powerful Christmas Eve storm.
- Record-breaking rainfall shattered daily records, triggering evacuations, road closures, and power outages across multiple counties.
- Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency, mobilizing resources amid saturated soils and mudslide threats.
- Second storm hit Northern California on Christmas Day with severe thunderstorms and 70+ mph winds.
Storm Hits on Christmas Eve
A powerful Pacific storm system slammed Southern California on December 24, 2025, delivering torrential rains that caused widespread flooding. Roads closed across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties as debris flows surged. Power lines snapped under the deluge, leaving thousands without electricity. Evacuation warnings issued urgently due to burn scars from recent wildfires amplifying mudslide dangers. Three people died in floodwaters, including a dedicated sheriff’s deputy serving his community.
Christmas deluge continues to slam Southern California, 3 people killed in floodwaters https://t.co/F7tiMelsQa pic.twitter.com/p4czMB0EdG
— New York Post (@nypost) December 25, 2025
Record Rainfall and Emergency Response
Rainfall records tumbled on Christmas Eve, with Woodland Hills logging 3.96 inches, LAX hitting 1.88 inches, and Burbank reaching 3.39 inches. Preceding wet weather had already saturated soils, heightening risks for flash floods and landslides. Local officials, including fire chief Prater, led door-to-door evacuations and vehicle rescues, stressing life safety as their top priority. Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for affected counties, unlocking National Guard support and state resources under the Disaster Assistance Act.
Escalation into Christmas Day
The devastation continued into December 25, 2025, as a second storm brought severe thunderstorms to Northern California, including wind gusts over 70 mph and flash flooding in the San Francisco metro area. Southern California faced lingering mudslide threats from saturated ground, despite a brief lull. Rescue crews worked nonstop, pulling stranded motorists from rising creeks and rivers. More showers loomed into December 26, keeping flood risks elevated even as the worst passed.
Impacts on Families and Economy
Holiday celebrations turned tragic for families in evacuation zones, with power outages and road closures disrupting Christmas gatherings. The sheriff’s department mourns a fallen deputy who died aiding others in the floods. Economic fallout includes business shutdowns during peak shopping days and looming cleanup costs straining local budgets. Long-term, infrastructure damage and heightened landslide risks from burn scar areas demand robust resilience measures. This event echoes past disasters like the 2018 Montecito mudslides, highlighting recurring vulnerabilities.
Ongoing Threats and Lessons
As of December 26, 2025, officials monitor persistent flooding and debris flow dangers. Meteorologists link the multi-day onslaught to atmospheric rivers and El Niño patterns, signaling a wet winter ahead. Responders prioritize property protection secondary to lives, urging residents to heed warnings. While Newsom’s swift emergency declaration aids recovery, conservatives question if years of poor forest management and regulatory overreach under his leadership worsened these burn scar vulnerabilities, eroding family safety during sacred holidays.
Watch the report: Christmas Tragedy: Powerful Winter Storm Claims At Least 4 Lives Across California
Sources:
- LA Times: LA wasn’t dreaming of a wet Christmas, but that’s what we got
- LA Times: LA got a break from rains during Christmas Day, but flooding risks remain
- California battles ‘life-threatening’ storms over Christmas as floods, high surf and avalanches threaten state | US News | Sky News
