Four Dead in Catastrophic Christmas Flooding in California; Northeast Braces for Heavy Snow

According to Rokna, citing NBC, an atmospheric river that brought relentless rainfall to California throughout the week began to ease on Friday, while New York City and other parts of the Northeastern U.S. prepared for up to a foot of snow.

In California, four people lost their lives as severe storms caused widespread flooding over the Christmas holiday. Meanwhile, in New York City, forecasts predicted nearly six inches of snow. By Friday evening, parts of the Northeast had already received around seven inches, with more expected.

In Los Angeles County, a man was found dead on Friday inside a sedan partially submerged in mud in Lancaster. On Christmas Eve, Sacramento County sheriff's deputy James Caravallo died in a single-vehicle accident on his way to work at a correctional facility; authorities said wet road conditions likely contributed to the crash. In San Diego, Roberto Ruiz died on Wednesday after a large tree branch fell on him, triggering cardiac arrest, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue. On Sunday, 74-year-old Richard Michael Wilsey succumbed to the severe flooding in Redding, reported the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.

Flood warnings remained in effect for the Los Angeles area through Saturday due to concerns over runoff, the National Weather Service said. Wrightwood, a mountain community northeast of Los Angeles, recorded nearly a foot of rain. Residents reported waking up to what they described as a “river running through our property.” The floods inundated homes and buried vehicles in mud.

Air and boat crews worked throughout the holiday to rescue residents trapped in floodwaters, pulling some from rooftops. In San Bernardino County, fire officials described some “extremely dire situations,” with mud and water up to five feet deep trapping people in their homes, according to spokesperson Christopher Prater.

On Christmas Day, a weak EF0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 mph touched down in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, the National Weather Service reported.

Winter Weather Hits the Northeast

Large sections of the Northeast—including much of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts—were under winter weather advisories or storm warnings on Friday evening. The combination of storms in the West and Northeast contributed to more than 6,000 flight delays and 1,600 cancellations across the U.S., with New York area airports leading in disruptions, according to FlightAware.

Although the region narrowly missed a white Christmas, heavy snowfall beginning Friday was forecast to significantly impact travel. New York City was expected to receive up to 11 inches of snow by Saturday afternoon, with the heaviest amounts likely in the northern metro areas of New York City and New Jersey. Officials advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel. By 10 p.m. Friday, New Fairfield, Connecticut, had received seven inches of snow, while Central Park recorded a light dusting of 0.3 inches. Parts of Long Island, including Suffolk County, reported four to five inches, with higher local totals possible.

Snowfall rates were projected to reach 1 to 2 inches per hour, peaking between Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut, and northeastern New Jersey were expected to see seven to eleven inches, with local amounts potentially higher. Travel conditions are forecast to be hazardous, with snow-covered roads, reduced visibility, isolated fallen trees, and possible power outages.

Upstate New York could see some of the heaviest snow, exceeding ten inches in isolated locations. New York City was forecast to receive four to eight inches on Friday night, with the first snowfall above four inches in Central Park since January 2022. Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania could experience significant icing and mixed winter precipitation. By Saturday afternoon, lighter snow showers and icy roads were expected, and the storm was forecast to taper off by the end of the day.