Key Takeaways:
- Southern California has experienced its wettest Christmas in modern history, with some areas receiving over 18 inches of rain since Tuesday.
- The rain has brought much-needed moisture to dry vegetation, reducing the risk of wildfires and alleviating drought conditions.
- The extreme weather event is part of a larger cycle of "hydroclimate whiplash" caused by human-induced global warming, which is expected to lead to more dramatic swings between dry and wet weather patterns.
- The storm has caused significant damage and disruption across California, resulting in at least three deaths, flooding, landslides, and fallen trees.
- A state of emergency has been declared in several counties, allowing for state resources to be mobilized and federal aid to be sought for road repairs.
Introduction to the Storm
A year ago, officials were warning about the dangers of a bone-dry winter, which ultimately led to the worst fires in Los Angeles history. However, this year’s Christmas has brought a completely different story, with Southern California experiencing its wettest Christmas in modern history. The National Weather Service office in Oxnard reported that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were the rainiest in the modern record for many parts of the region. Some mountain areas have received close to 18 inches of rain since Tuesday, with more rain falling on Friday. This is also one of the wettest starts to the water year, which began on October 1.
Rainfall Records and Impacts
The rain has brought much-needed moisture to dry vegetation, reducing the risk of wildfires and alleviating drought conditions. The storm has also broken several rainfall records, with Santa Barbara Airport receiving 4.83 inches of rain, beating the previous record of 3.22 inches set in 1955. Other areas, such as Woodland Hills, Oxnard, and Van Nuys, have also broken their previous records. Downtown Los Angeles has recorded 2.59 inches of rain, making it the fourth-wettest December 24-25 period on record. The rain has also caused significant damage, with flooding, landslides, and fallen trees reported across the state.
Damage and Disruption
The storm has caused significant damage and disruption across California, resulting in at least three deaths. A motorist drove into floodwaters in Redding, a woman was knocked off a rock by a large wave at a beach in Mendocino County, and a man was struck by a falling tree in San Diego. Two people were also killed in a crash involving three vehicles on the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in several counties, allowing for state resources to be mobilized and federal aid to be sought for road repairs. The storm has also caused flooding, landslides, and fallen trees in the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, with tornado warnings briefly issued for the San Gabriel Valley and parts of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.
Rescue Efforts and Evacuations
The storm has required significant rescue efforts, with the Los Angeles Fire Department deploying teams to several river-rescue incidents. A woman was rescued after being swept away in San Jose Creek in the San Gabriel Valley, and a man, his dog, and his cat were rescued from a recreational vehicle trapped in a creek. Evacuation warnings and orders have been issued for several areas, including Wrightwood and Lytle Creek, which were hit by a Christmas Eve debris flow. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has responded to numerous vehicles trapped by flooding across the Antelope Valley.
Long-term Implications
The extreme weather event is part of a larger cycle of "hydroclimate whiplash" caused by human-induced global warming. Scientists predict that this phenomenon will lead to more dramatic swings between dry and wet weather patterns, resulting in more frequent and severe droughts and floods. This highlights the need for increased preparedness and resilience in the face of climate change. As the storm exits the region, it’s possible that 1 to 3 inches of snow will have fallen in the San Bernardino Mountains, with 8 to 12 inches above 8,000 feet. The weather is expected to be drier across California at the start of next week, but there is a chance of a moderate-to-strong Santa Ana wind event in Southern California early next week, and precipitation could return to the region toward the end of next week.
