California Atmospheric Rivers and Flooding

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.