What's happened
Starting Christmas Eve 2025, Southern California endured record rainfall from atmospheric rivers, causing flooding, mudslides, and evacuation orders, especially in wildfire burn scar areas. At least three deaths occurred. The storms continued through New Year's Day with additional rain expected, prompting state emergency declarations and extensive rescue efforts in affected communities.
What's behind the headline?
Atmospheric Rivers and Vulnerability
The recent storms in Southern California exemplify the destructive synergy between natural weather phenomena and human-altered landscapes. Atmospheric rivers, responsible for up to half of the region's annual rainfall, delivered intense precipitation over burn scar areas left by earlier wildfires. These scars reduce soil stability and water absorption, dramatically increasing flood and mudslide risks.
Impact on Communities and Infrastructure
Communities like Wrightwood and Sierra Madre faced evacuation orders and infrastructure damage, with roads washed out and homes threatened. The timing during the holiday season compounded challenges, straining emergency services and complicating travel for millions.
Government Response and Preparedness
Governor Gavin Newsom's state of emergency declarations across six counties enabled rapid deployment of resources. Firefighters and rescue teams operated extensively, with over 150 personnel in critical zones. However, the scale of the event highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in wildfire-prone regions facing climate-driven extreme weather.
Forecast and Future Risks
Though rainfall is expected to ease after New Year's Day, the event underscores a pattern of increasingly frequent and severe atmospheric rivers exacerbated by climate change. Southern California must enhance flood mitigation, land management, and emergency preparedness to adapt to these evolving threats.
Broader Implications
This event challenges the perception of Southern California as a temperate paradise, revealing the complex interplay of climate change, urban development, and natural hazards. Residents and policymakers must reconcile growth with resilience strategies to safeguard lives and property.
What the papers say
The New York Times detailed the human impact, noting evacuation orders in burn scar areas and the emotional toll on residents like Paige Fillion, who faced repeated evacuations (Karlamangla, NYT). Reuters provided meteorological context, describing the atmospheric river as a "vast airborne current of dense moisture" and highlighting the storm's progression and expected end (McKay, Reuters). The NY Post focused on the storm's severity, reporting six inches of rain in 72 hours and at least three deaths, including a sheriff's deputy and a San Diego man killed by falling debris (O'Neill, NY Post). Sky News and AP News emphasized the scale of the flooding and the emergency response, with firefighters deployed and Governor Newsom declaring a state of emergency in six counties (Sky News; AP News). The Independent and France 24 offered vivid accounts from affected towns like Wrightwood, illustrating community resilience amid power outages and blocked roads, while also explaining the meteorological phenomenon known as the "pineapple express" (The Independent; France 24). Business Insider UK highlighted the warnings issued before the storm and the ongoing risks, quoting officials urging caution on the roads (Business Insider UK). Together, these sources provide a comprehensive picture of a severe weather event compounded by wildfire damage, with significant human, infrastructural, and environmental consequences.
How we got here
Southern California experienced devastating wildfires in January 2025, leaving burn scar areas vulnerable. In late December, a series of atmospheric rivers—moisture-laden air currents from the Pacific—brought unprecedented rainfall, triggering floods and mudslides in these sensitive zones during the busy holiday travel period.
Go deeper
- What caused the severe flooding in Southern California during Christmas 2025?
- How did the wildfires earlier in 2025 affect the flooding risks?
- What measures are being taken to prevent future flood disasters in California?
Common question
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How is climate change causing more severe flooding in California?
Recent storms in Southern California have brought record rainfall, leading to devastating floods and mudslides. Many wonder how climate change is influencing these extreme weather events. In this page, we explore the connection between climate change and increased flooding, the areas most affected, and what residents can do to stay safe during these storms. Keep reading to understand the science behind these events and how communities are responding.
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