Name: Unrelenting rain triggers dangerous flooding in California
Uploaded: 2025-12-23T01:39:14.475Z
Duration: 2 min 57 s
Description: Dangerous storms unleashed flooding across parts of California, leaving roads underwater and prompting rescues. Andres Gutierrez reports the severe weather comes as a record number of Americans are expected to travel for the holidays this year. Rob Marciano has the forecast.

Dangerous storms unleashed flooding across parts of California, leaving roads underwater and prompting rescues. Andres Gutierrez reports the severe weather comes as a record number of Americans are expected to travel for the holidays this year. Rob Marciano has the forecast.

Los Angeles

California is experiencing severe weather as persistent rain has led to dangerous flooding and mandatory evacuation warnings, particularly in areas previously affected by wildfires. In Northern California, at least one fatality has occurred, and emergency responders have conducted dramatic rescues, including evacuating nine people near Lake Tahoe.

The ongoing storms are impacting holiday travel, with record numbers of Americans on the move and long lines at airports, though flight cancellations have been minimal. Weather forecasts predict further heavy rainfall, flash flooding risks, and significant snowfall in the mountains, with 44 million people under flood watch across California and neighboring regions.

Unrelenting rain triggers dangerous flooding in California

Good evening, Jerica. It is going to be a wet Christmas here, and there are concerns about mudflows in areas affected by the wildfires earlier this year. Mandatory evacuation warnings are in effect. LAPD officers will go door to door at high-risk homes, all because of a storm that has already hit other parts of the state. In Northern California, unrelenting rain has unleashed dangerous conditions. One driver died trapped in his car during the flooding. There was also a dramatic rescue near Lake Tahoe. Nine people were evacuated from a home, including a six-year-old carried out by first responders. AAA estimates a record number of Americans are traveling this year, beating last year's all-time high. For most of the country, the clogged roads are just a nuisance. But from New England to Miami, the holiday rush has meant long line at airport checkpoints. So far, few flight cancellations. Welcome news for travelers like Devin Klein, headed to Maui. How has the experience been so far this morning? It's been fantastic. There's always going to be some sort of chaos, but you've just got to have patience. Jordan Paltry and his dog Scout also arrived early. No cancellations, no delays. Are you prepared for that if that happens? Yes. We've traveled quite frequently, so we always have a plan B and C if we need to have. The crush isn't just for passengers leaving. Southern California is one of the top destinations for those seeking warmer winter weather. And so far, so good. But again, starting tomorrow all the way through Friday, a major storm is about to wreak havoc on the roads and in the skies. Jerica, I see people reuniting behind you, Andres. Thank you so much. Now let's turn to Rob Marciano with the Christmas week forecast, Rob. Well, Jerica, we'll have our set of problems here in the east tomorrow, but the big action is going to be in the west. And what you saw happen in northern California over the weekend is really just a taste of what's to come in southern California, especially as we go through the Christmas holiday. There's the Atmospheric River pointed right at the Golden State there. 44 million people under a flood watch. That includes Las Vegas as well. We have winter storm watches as well. As this next batch is coming in, it's going to mean business. First, it hits northern California tomorrow night and then swings into central and southern California. We start to brighten up the colors there. Yellows and oranges are never good. And obviously the blues are the snows there in the mountains. So that's Christmas Eve. As we go to Christmas Day, another surge coming in. And that may very well be the one that does. It could see up to 10 inches of rainfall. And we've got a high risk of seeing some flash flooding during the day on Christmas along the coastal range there and up to four feet of snow in the mountains. Speaking of snow, we do have a little pulse that's coming into the northeast tomorrow. It will bring a little bit of action, especially around the rush hour commute. Most of the I-95 quarters should be OK, but certainly enough to slick up the roads. We start this very busy holiday travel week. Jerica, Rob Marciano, thanks so much.

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