California’s National Weather Service warns of life‑threatening conditions that will last through Christmas, and the governor has declared a state of emergency in six counties.
Life‑Threatening Weather Conditions in California
The National Weather Service alerts that dangerous weather will persist throughout the holiday season, with a high‑risk warning for excessive rainfall in force.
These conditions are expected to remain at least until Christmas, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties to aid emergency services.
Atmospheric River Explained
Meteorologists attribute the heavy rain to an atmospheric river—a narrow, moist air stream moving over ocean and land.
When it encounters mountains, it produces prolonged, intense precipitation.
The governor noted that an atmospheric river can trigger flooding, mudslides, debris flows, and rapid rises in river and stream levels.
House Evacuations in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County issued more than a hundred evacuation orders, mainly in areas previously damaged by fires.
Instead of typical seasonal amounts, many locations could receive 10–20 centimeters of rain, with higher totals in the mountains.
Intense snowfall and very low visibility are forecast in the Sierra Nevada, potentially paralyzing traffic through mountain passes.
Elevated avalanche risk remains in the Tahoe region.
After the storm, power has been restored to over 165,000 homes statewide.
