Atmospheric rivers flood Southern California, kill two
Successive atmospheric river storms over Christmas are drenching Southern California, causing at least two weather-related deaths, triggering mudslides and debris flows in January wildfire burn scars, trapping residents in mountain communities and closing major roads including a stretch of Interstate 5 near Burbank. Local officials have issued evacuation and shelter-in-place orders for areas such as Lytle Creek and Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains, where washed-out bridges and blocked roads have left residents and holiday travelers stranded as forecasters warn the region could see its wettest Christmas in years and continued flooding and landslide risk into Friday.
📌 Key Facts
- Forecasters say Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years from multiple atmospheric rivers carrying tropical moisture.
- A man in San Diego was killed by a falling tree and a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy died in an apparent weather-related crash on Wednesday.
- Mud and debris flows in the San Gabriel Mountains washed out the only bridge into Lytle Creek and blocked access roads near Wrightwood, prompting evacuation and shelter-in-place orders and rescues of motorists trapped in cars.
- Residents near January wildfire burn scars, including Airport Fire zones in Orange County, received evacuation orders due to heightened debris-flow risk.
- Flooding closed several roads, including a portion of Interstate 5 near Burbank Airport, while coastal areas such as Malibu were placed under flood watches through Friday afternoon.
📊 Relevant Data
In Los Angeles, Non-Hispanic Black residents are 79% more likely than Non-Hispanic White residents to be exposed to dangerous flooding in a 100-year flood event.
In Los Angeles, Hispanic residents are 17% more likely than Non-Hispanic White residents to be exposed to dangerous flooding in a 100-year flood event.
In Los Angeles, the more disadvantaged half of the population shoulders 65% of the composite flood hazard.
Communities of color in California, specifically census tracts with a majority Black, Latino, or Native American population, are 50% more vulnerable to wildfires compared to other census tracts.
In Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, undocumented individuals account for more than 9% of the population, or approximately 111,000 people, with many employed in high-risk outdoor sectors like agriculture that increase exposure to wildfire and post-fire debris flow risks.