California could see relief over holiday weekend after heavy rain and snow

California spent Christmas battling a powerful atmospheric river that drenched cities, toppled trees, and buried mountain passes in snow.

The storm hit Southern California on Christmas Eve, dumping up to 8 inches of rain, flooding roads, and triggering mudslides near burn scars. Rescue crews worked through the night, helping people stranded in cars and homes.

By Christmas morning, the Bay Area experienced gusts up to 70 mph, while the Sierra Nevada was covered in several feet of snow. Santa Barbara Airport briefly shut down before reopening later in the day. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as more than 160,000 customers lost power.

Forecasters say one last round of rain, snow, and wind is expected Friday before calmer, sunnier conditions arrive over the weekend.

Southern California: Heavy rain Friday, sunshine ahead

Friday, Dec. 26: Coastal valleys and foothills will see heavy rain and thunderstorms, with rates up to 0.75 inches per hour. Localized flooding is possible. Gusty winds of 30–50 mph could topple trees and power lines.
Saturday & Sunday: Mostly sunny skies, highs in the mid-60s, with flood and mudslide risks gradually decreasing.

Northern California: Showers linger before clearing

Friday: Lingering showers and gusty winds keep roads slick, with flood warnings for low-lying areas.
Saturday & Sunday: Clouds break with scattered showers, highs in the upper 50s to low 60s. Creeks and rivers remain swollen, so caution is advised.

Central California: Flood watch continues

Friday: Moderate to heavy rain continues, with totals of 2–4 inches in some areas. Winds near 40 mph could cause additional outages.
Saturday & Sunday: Light showers taper off, skies begin clearing, temperatures in the 50s.

High Desert: Gusty winds ease

Friday: Winds of 35–55 mph and isolated showers may make travel hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Saturday & Sunday: Winds ease, skies clear, highs climb into the 60s.

Sierra Nevada: Snow keeps travel treacherous

Friday: Heavy snow continues, with chain controls on I-80 and Highway 50. Travel is strongly discouraged.
Saturday & Sunday: Snow showers linger, but conditions slowly improve. Chains remain mandatory.

Excessive rainfall risk
Forecast maps show the likelihood of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance within 25 miles of a location each day. Pink indicates a high risk (70%+), red moderate (40%+), yellow slight (15%+), green marginal (5%+), and gray low risk (less than 10%).

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