Southern California faced severe flooding and mudslides during the Christmas season, triggered by powerful winter storms. This led to roads turning into muddy rivers, homes being submerged, and widespread disruption. The region experienced its wettest Christmas in decades.
Wrightwood, a town of 5,000 residents 130 km northeast of Los Angeles, bore the brunt of the storms, receiving up to 300 mm of rain in recent days. The relentless downpour transformed streets into fast-flowing rivers of mud, with floodwaters reaching car window levels and inundating homes.
Cars submerged in mud in Wrightwood, California. Photo: AP
Rescue teams in Los Angeles County saved more than 100 people on 25/12. Helicopters extracted 21 individuals from vehicles trapped in the mud. Los Angeles police also reported over 350 traffic incidents during the severe weather. Tragically, state officials confirmed at least three fatalities by 26/12, including one police officer.
Residents recounted the devastation. Sherry Tocco, a Wrightwood resident, described her neighborhood as "heavily damaged", with many homes destroyed by the rushing mud. While her own house was spared, she witnessed the destruction firsthand: "The river water rose, then the flood came, destroying everything", Tocco stated. Fire officials had evacuated her earlier this week, and she spent Christmas Eve sleeping in her oto. Power outages affected most of the town, forcing residents to purchase firewood and gas for heating and cooking.
Mudslides submerge homes in San Bernardino, California. Video: X/SBCountyFire
Manny Simpson, a longtime Wrightwood resident, called it the worst storm he had ever seen, with his basement flooded and numerous neighboring houses buried in mud. In nearby Lytle Creek, media reports indicated homes were submerged under more than 1,2 meters of mud. "Many people tried to stay, but could not stop the flood from entering their homes", local resident Travis Guenther remarked.
The central Los Angeles area recorded 76 mm of rain over three days, marking its wettest Christmas in 54 years. Parts of Ventura County experienced even more extreme rainfall, with totals reaching 430 mm. Beyond the immediate flood zones, the strong winds associated with the storms caused significant travel disruptions, delaying approximately 44% of flights at San Francisco airport on 26/12.
By Duc Trung, based on reports from AP, CBS News, and ABC News.
