California is ramping up emergency preparations as a powerful Pineapple Express storm targets Southern California ahead of Christmas, with officials warning of heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, and potential mudslides.
Governor Gavin Newsom says the state’s emergency response network is fully activated. Cal OES is coordinating across state agencies, while Caltrans crews are clearing storm drains and staging equipment in flood-prone areas. The Department of Water Resources has prepositioned sandbags statewide and readied stormwater-capture systems to both reduce flooding and boost water supplies. CHP is urging drivers to use extreme caution on wet roads and avoid travel during peak storm conditions, and CAL FIRE has crews and equipment on standby for emergency response.
Forecasters say the storm could make this one of the wettest Christmas weeks Southern California has seen in decades. There’s an 80% chance downtown Los Angeles will receive two inches or more of rain from Tuesday through Christmas Day — something that hasn’t happened since 1971.
According to the National Weather Service, the strongest impacts are expected Tuesday through Thursday. Rain chances of 80% to 100% are forecast for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, beginning Tuesday night. Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego County could see lighter rain Tuesday, with heavier precipitation arriving Wednesday and lingering into Thursday.
In a worst-case scenario, forecasters warn there’s up to a 40% chance of very high rainfall totals across parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. That could mean four or more inches of rain along the coast and valleys, and eight inches or more in the mountains and foothills, with rainfall rates reaching up to an inch per hour.
Such conditions could trigger mudslides, flooded freeways, overflowing rivers and streams, downed trees and power lines, dangerous coastal waters, and swift-water rescues. Officials say flooding could rise above curbs and into homes and businesses in some areas.
Residents are urged to stay weather-aware, prepare for power outages and travel disruptions, and heed warnings as Southern California braces for a soggy and potentially hazardous holiday week.
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