Historic Christmas Storm Batters Southern California: Floods, Mudslides, Power Outages

• A powerful winter storm is lashing Southern California, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in Los Angeles and neighboring counties due to "great danger" from floods.
• Coastal communities anticipate months' worth of rain in days, while wildfire-charred areas face high risks of mudslides and landslides due to hydrophobic soil.
• The historic storm, lasting until Friday, has led to evacuations in Los Angeles and Orange County, road closures, flooded freeways, flight delays, and power outages affecting over 10,700 customers.
• The "Pineapple Express" atmospheric river is causing peak rainfall up to 1.5 inches per hour, with forecasts of 9-14 inches total by Friday in areas like Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
• Emergency resources, including 55 fire engines and 10 swiftwater rescue teams, are pre-positioned; residents are warned to drive carefully and avoid flooded roads; high winds and potential waterspouts also threaten the region.

Why It Matters: Historic Christmas storm causes "great danger" of floods, mudslides, and power outages in Southern California.