SoCal Holiday Storm: Tornado Warning, Flooding Hits Christmas Eve

Southern Californians are facing a tumultuous Christmas Eve and holiday weekend as an atmospheric river unleashes severe weather. Thousands in Los Angeles County experienced power outages on December 24th, with evacuation warnings issued for areas near wildfire burn scars. A brief tornado warning was also in effect for several cities, including Pasadena and Alhambra.

Emergency services responded to incidents such as a person trapped in a drainage tunnel. Flash flood warnings are in place across the region, prompting officials to advise extreme caution for travelers on Christmas Eve and Day. Los Angeles crews are addressing numerous downed trees, with potential for more due to forecasted Santa Ana winds later in the week.

While the heaviest rain is expected to move out overnight, another surge of steady rain is anticipated for Christmas Day and December 26th, likely exacerbating flooding and leading to continued road closures. Further into the weekend, a Santa Ana wind event from December 27th to early December 29th could cause additional downed trees as the rain-soaked soil becomes unstable.