At least 1 killed as Northern California battered by rain, major Christmas flood threat looms for Los Angeles

Latest atmospheric stream blasts Northern California with dense rain, causing deadly flooding

Multiple rounds of rainfall volition soak Northern and Southern California done Christmas week. The latest atmospheric stream is blasting the bluish portion of the state, dropping astir a ft of rainfall successful immoderate places. At slightest 1 idiosyncratic was killed amid the flooding successful Redding, according to the city's mayor. Heavy rainfall volition persist done Monday implicit Northern California, including San Francisco and Sacramento. The heaviest rainfall volition displacement to Southern California by midweek, conscionable successful clip for Christmas Eve, arsenic an country of debased unit develops disconnected the California coast.

REDDING, Calif. – Floods turned deadly successful Northern California arsenic the latest atmospheric stream slammed the portion implicit the weekend, dropping astir a ft of rain successful immoderate places. Meanwhile, much dense rainfall and flooding are forecast to persist and grow into Southern California done the Christmas holiday week.

CHRISTMAS WEATHER OUTLOOK: MILLIONS TO SEE 'NICE' FORECAST WITH A TOUCH OF 'NAUGHTY' ACROSS NATION

The metropolis of Redding saw pockets of wide flooding Sunday, leaving astatine slightest 1 idiosyncratic dead, according to the mayor. Police and firefighters executed aggregate h2o rescues, arsenic floodwaters forced radical from their homes.

Flooding successful Redding, California connected Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

(Redding Police Department/Facebook / FOX Weather)

An Emergency Operations Center and shelters for the displaced are being acceptable up, according to the city's societal media leafage and Mayor Mike Littau.

MAN DROWNS AFTER CAR IS SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODWATERS IN OREGON

In Humboldt County, Caltrans unopen down U.S. Highway 101 successful some directions northbound of Loleta connected Sunday, arsenic flooding swamped a important north-south artery for the West Coast. There's nary connection connected erstwhile that closure volition reopen.

The dense rainfall halted flights astatine San Francisco International Airport, snarling vacation question during 1 of the busiest aerial travel days of the year.

More delays are expected astatine San Francisco International and Los Angeles International Airport connected Monday, arsenic this atmospheric stream continues to dump dense rainfall crossed the state.

Flooding connected U.S. Highway 101 successful Humboldt County, California connected Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

(@CaltransDist1/X / FOX Weather)

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 retired of 4 flash flood hazard for the foothills of the bluish Sierra Nevada done Monday.

7 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FLASH FLOODS

A broader Level 2 retired of 4 flash flood menace covers overmuch of Northern California, including San Francisco.

After a little reprieve Tuesday, a 2nd circular of rainfall volition determination into the portion Tuesday night, arsenic an country of debased unit develops disconnected the California coast.

The heaviest rainfall volition statesman to displacement southbound connected Christmas Eve, but the San Francisco metro country should expect 3-5 inches of rainfall done Friday.

NEWLY TAGGED WHITE SHARK 'RIPPLE' MAKES APPEARANCE OFF NEW ORLEANS COAST

According to the FOX Forecast Center, this tempest strategy is expected to intensify arsenic it comes onshore, producing wind gusts up to 80 mph on the coast.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Wind Alerts from Ukiah to Monterey, arsenic good arsenic Bakersfield farther inland, for upwind gusts of up to 80 mph done Thursday. 

Christmas flood menace for Southern California, Los Angeles

Heavy rainfall on the Interstate 5 corridor successful Southern California opening Wednesday. 

The Los Angeles metro country is nether a Level 3 retired of 5 hazard of flash flooding from Wednesday done Christmas Day morning, with 5-8 inches of rainfall possible.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, rainfall rates could attack an inch per hour, threatening areas adjacent pain scars from January's wildfire disaster with mudslides.

According to the National Weather Service, ash from wildfires creates pain scars – a water-repellent coating that prevents the crushed from absorbing h2o and causes the country to beryllium predisposed to flash flooding and debris flows.

WHAT IS A WILDFIRE BURN SCAR AND HOW COULD THEY HAVE LASTING IMPACTS?

FILE- SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 12,  2025 - -  Workers locomotion on Pacific Coast Highway, astatine Estrada Dr.., minutes earlier the road was shutdown successful Santa Monica connected March 12, 2025. Caltrans closed a conception of Pacific Coast Highway to residents and businesses successful pain scar areas astatine noon Wednesday owed to information concerns from the incoming storm. Only exigency vehicles and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris-hauling contractors volition beryllium allowed done the closure. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

All told, this could fertile among the city's wettest Christmas periods connected record.

Flood Watches stay successful effect for overmuch of the full authorities done astatine slightest Friday.

Feet of snowfall expected crossed Sierra Nevada

Meanwhile, those driving implicit the Sierras should expect upland walk closures and hazardous question conditions opening Tuesday done Friday.

Feet of snowfall are expected to autumn connected the Sierras done the vacation week, with snow levels dropping to 5,000 feet. 

Winter Weather Alerts person been issued for the Sierras done Friday.