Wrightwood, California– The powerful storm that brought heavy winds, rain and snow to California this week is expected to subside this week, but there is still a risk of surging waves along the coast, flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.
Officials warned that waves near the San Francisco Bay area could reach 25 feet (7.6 meters) high on Friday, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding, and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe area. Residents were told to be prepared to evacuate the mountain town of Wrightwood, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, due to mudslides.
Atmospheric rivers Huge columns of moisture were brought in from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The storms were blamed for at least two deaths earlier in the week.
The system brought the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in 54 years, the National Weather Service said.
Rocks, debris and thick mud covered roads in Wrightwood, a town of 5,000 people, on Thursday. With the power outage, the gas station and café powered by generators became hubs for residents and visitors.
“It’s a really crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.
The family was nearly evacuated the day before, when water washed away part of their backyard, Lopiccolo said. But they decided to stay and still celebrated the holiday. Lopiccolo got a new skateboard and e-bike.
“We played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.
Davey Schneider walked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) through rain and floodwater up to his legs from his Wrightwood residence on Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house.
“I wanted to help them because I wasn’t sure they would survive,” Schneider said Thursday. “Fortunately, they all lived. They’re all fine — just a little scared.”
Arlene Corti said that the roads in the town turned into rivers, but her house was not damaged.
“It could be a lot worse,” she said. “We’re here talking.”
With more rain on the way, more than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area, said Sean Millerick, San Bernardino County Fire spokesman.
“We are ready,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”
A falling tree killed a man in San Diego on Wednesday, News outlets I mentioned. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related accident.
Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch as of Friday afternoon, and wind and flood warnings were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
Southern California typically receives 1/2 inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm), with more in the mountains, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
More winds and heavy snow were expected in the Sierra Nevada, where storm surges created “near-whiteout conditions” and made mountain passes dangerous.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow for state aid.
The state deployed resources and first responders to several coastal counties and Southern California, and the California National Guard was on standby.
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Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Oakland, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.