The National Weather Service has issued weather warnings for nearly all of California as a rapidly developing bomb cyclone forms off the coast.
Northern California is expected to see the worst of the storm, with a strong cold front, heavy rainfall and wind gusts of up to 60 mph across the Bay Area. Embedded thunderstorms and even isolated tornadoes are also possible. Unfortunately, this means thousands of people may be without power on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In Southern California, significant rainfall is expected, with up to 7.5 inches expected in the Los Angeles area and 3-4 inches in the San Diego area as part of an atmospheric river accompanying the storm front Wednesday night into Saturday. The weather in California this week has been absolutely crazy.
The impending storm has put more than 25 million people across the state on flood alerts, with many residents facing a range of emotions, from simple frustration (vacation plans disrupted) to fear as they recall extreme weather events from past years.
“I was planning on doing something different with my family this year and I told the kids we could go camping and fishing, but then this storm came out of nowhere and everywhere was under a flood watch,” said Max Hernandez of San Diego. “It’s frustrating, but I know I’m in some areas where it could be bad and I’m just praying that everyone is safe and out of harm’s way.”
It’s been less than a year since the Palisade and Eaton fires caused chaos, destruction and devastation in the Los Angeles area, and many families are still dealing with the tragedy. While the storm is unlikely to spark fires, the 7.5 inches of rain will bring its own set of challenges, including flooding and debris.
Many low-lying areas and roads will be flooded and the risk of landslides will be significantly increased, particularly in areas that have been damaged by recent fires. Residents in nearby Pasadena, Malibu and Pacific Palisades have been scrambling to protect their property.
Needless to say, such heavy rainfall will keep many surfers off the water during their vacation. For those who go skiing, it can be difficult to maintain normal operations in the mountains if snow falls too quickly.
On behalf of the SURFER staff, I wish you a happy holiday and stay safe.
RELATED: Atmospheric rivers, high wind warnings hit California during holiday travel season
This article was originally published by Surfer on December 23, 2025 and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add Surfer as a preferred source.
