Powerful Holiday Storm Lashes Southern California and Brings Flash Floods, Mudslides

Powerful Holiday Storm Lashes Southern California and Brings Flash Floods, Mudslides
Miguel Lopez sweeps water from Marlene's Beachcomber on the Santa Monica pier in Santa Monica, Calif., on Dec. 24, 2025. Wally Skalij/AP Photo
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LOS ANGELES—A powerful winter storm swept across California on Wednesday, with heavy rain and gusty winds leading to evacuation warnings for mudslides in the south, bringing near white-out snow conditions in the mountains and hazardous travel for millions of holiday drivers.

Forecasters said Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned about flash flooding and mudslides. Areas scorched by January’s wildfires were under evacuation warnings, and Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they were going door to door to about 380 especially vulnerable homes to order residents to evacuate.