California hit by Christmas storm as tornado threat looms in Los Angeles
Illustrative photo: heavy rains triggered flooding in Southern California (Getty Images)
Heavy rainfall in Southern California on Wednesday triggered widespread flash flooding, with Los Angeles facing a tornado threat, according to Reuters.
Authorities also urged motorists to avoid travel and called on residents living below the foothills and canyons affected by wildfires to evacuate.
According to forecasters, rainfall rates in some areas exceeded 2.5 cm per hour. The downpours were driven by a so-called "atmospheric river" - a powerful plume of moisture from the Pacific Ocean that swept across the Greater Los Angeles area.
What forecasters say
The US National Weather Service said the storm that began on Christmas Eve is expected to last through Friday, creating hazardous road conditions during peak holiday travel. Officials warned that life-threatening risks would persist at least through Christmas.
Flash flood warnings were issued for much of Los Angeles County until 6:00 p.m. local time. Drivers were urged not to travel unless necessary and to strictly follow evacuation orders.
Los Angeles is under threat
Los Angeles authorities said evacuation orders affected about 130 homes considered particularly vulnerable to landslides and debris flows. These include areas heavily damaged by last year’s wildfires, such as Pacific Palisades.
The storm brought strong wind gusts capable of toppling trees and power lines. Heavy snowfall is expected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Meteorologist Ariel Cohen said that by Wednesday morning, some foothill areas had received between 10 and 20 cm of precipitation, with numerous landslides reported.
Forecasters also issued a rare tornado warning for parts of east-central Los Angeles County due to intense thunderstorm activity near the city of Alhambra.
US storms
The US regularly faces severe natural hazards, including storms, tornadoes, floods, landslides, earthquakes, and even typhoons.
Earlier this year, powerful storms and tornadoes swept across the southern and Midwestern United States, killing at least seven people. The extreme weather damaged homes and vehicles in several states, leaving more than 200,000 households without power from Texas to Ohio.
Previously, a storm in the southern US also knocked out electricity for more than 23,500 people, particularly in the states of Arkansas and Texas.
