Rainy Christmas Brings Relief and Risks to Southern California

Southern California saw a mix of relief and trouble during Christmas. Heavy rain finally eased up, but the ground is still soaked. This means flooding and mudslides could still happen, especially in areas burned by recent fires. The mayor of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency. A flood watch was in effect until Friday evening. Rain was expected to stop by Friday night. The weekend looked sunny and cool, with temperatures reaching 64 degrees. But the lighter rain on Friday could still cause problems. The ground is already full of water. This makes it easier for flooding to happen. The storms caused three deaths across California. A man in San Diego died when a tree fell on him. A woman in her 70s was killed by a wave at a beach. Another person died in flooding in Redding. Firefighters rescued a woman who was swept away by a creek. The rain also caused a sewage spill near Cabrillo Beach. People were told to stay away from the water and wet sand there.Some families still enjoyed their Christmas plans. A family from Sacramento drove to Disneyland. They had a good time despite the rain. Another family from Inglewood visited Downtown Disney. They said the rain wouldn't stop them from having fun. Areas like Malibu and Topanga Canyon are still at risk. Heavy thunderstorms hit parts of Ventura County. Wind gusts reached 50 miles per hour. The storm dumped a lot of rain, from 2 to 10 inches in some places. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to river rescues. The police dealt with over 100 traffic accidents. The city had to fix traffic signals and deal with nearly 500 tree emergencies. A winter storm warning was in effect for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Snow was expected to reach up to 12 inches per day. By the weekend, snow could fall at lower elevations. Cities like Tehachapi and Frazier Park faced high winds. These winds could blow down trees and power lines. People were told to stay safe during the storm.