Rain-soaked California still at risk of floods and high surf

WRIGHTWOOD, California. (AP) – The powerful storm system that brought sustained wind, rain and snow to California this week was expected to ease Friday, but there was still a risk of high waves along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.

Officials warned that waves near the San Francisco Bay Area could reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) on Friday, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe region. Residents were told to be ready to evacuate the mountain town of Wrightwood, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, because of mudslides.

atmospheric rivers Huge clouds of moisture moved in from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. 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.

Roads in the town of Wrightwood, population 5,000, were covered with rocks, debris and thick mud Thursday. A gas station and cafe, powered by generators due to a power outage, served as a hub for residents and visitors.

“It’s a really crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who spent the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.

Lopiccolo said the family was nearly evacuated the day before after water washed away part of their backyard. But they decided to stay and celebrated the holiday anyway. Lopiccolo bought a new snowboard and e-bike.

“We played card games with candles and lanterns all night long,” he said.

Davey Schneider walked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers), shin-deep, through rain and floodwater from his Wrightwood home on Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house.

“I wanted to help them because I wasn’t sure if they were going to live,” Schneider said Thursday. “Luckily they all survived. They’re all fine, just a little scared.”

Arlene Corte said the roads in the town turned into a river, but her home was not damaged.

“It could be a lot worse,” he said. “We’re talking here.”

San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Shawn Millerick said more than 150 firefighters were deployed to the area as the rain increased.

“We are ready,” he said. “Everything is ready at this point.”

A falling tree killed a San Diego man on Wednesday. news sources reported. Further north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy was killed in a crash that appeared to be caused by weather conditions.

Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood warnings were issued for the Sacramento Valley and much of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but many areas could see 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain this week, with even more possible in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

More wind and heavy snow were expected in the Sierra Nevada, where winds created “near whiteout conditions” and made mountain pass travel treacherous.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency in six counties to allow state aid.

The state deployed resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard also stood by.

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Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Oakland, Calif., and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.