An intense atmospheric river storm has swept across California this week, prompting widespread weather alerts as forecasters warn of flooding during the Christmas holiday.
Parts of Southern California entered the holiday under alerts issued by the National Weather Service (NWS), expected to be in place until at least Sunday morning.
Why It Matters
The atmospheric river—a concentrated band of moisture in the sky—has brought rainfall and flooding risks to California, a state frequently threatened by both droughts and severe winter storms, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as heavy rain, gusty winds and flooding prompted evacuations across multiple counties, including Los Angeles.
What To Know
Nearly all of California was under some form of weather warning or advisory, including winter storm warnings, high wind advisories and extensive flood watches earlier this week.
Parts of Los Angeles were projected to receive up to 4-8 inches of rain this week, two to three times the typical December total, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys.
A “moderate risk” level warning for excessive rainfall has been issued for parts of Southern California from Thursday into Friday morning, with the National Weather Service predicting numerous possible flash flooding events.
“In addition, many streams may flood, potentially affecting larger rivers. The flooding may include debris flows in or near recently burned areas. Additionally, a slight risk of excessive rainfall will develop over Northern/central California and into parts of southern Nevada on Thursday,” the NWS said.
The storm is expected to continue through Friday, with a moderate-to-slight risk of ongoing excessive rainfall and heavy snow through the weekend.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: “The fast-moving runoff can pick up rocks, mud, ash and debris, quickly turning into a debris flow that can race downhill with little warning, taking out homes, vehicles and roads along the way.”
Senior meteorologist Roys said: “Air travel through major hubs, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, California, could face delays due to strong winds, reduced visibility and runway flooding.”
What Happens Next
Meteorologists warn that while such storms replenish groundwater and reservoir levels, the risk of severe impacts will remain until the system fully clears. Ongoing NWS alerts and interactive weather maps allow residents to track warnings in real time and take appropriate action as forecasts evolve.
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