A powerful winter storm system battered much of California over the Christmas holiday, unleashing torrential rain, flooding, mudslides and strong winds that left at least three people dead and thousands of residents evacuated from their homes, officials and local reports said.

Heavy rainfall brought by atmospheric rivers, long, moisture‑laden air currents sweeping in from the Pacific, caused flash flooding across Southern California and into parts of the Bay Area, inundating streets and prompting emergency evacuation orders in several communities, according to NBC News.

State and local authorities declared a state of emergency in multiple counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino and others, to mobilise additional resources and support response efforts as rivers and drainage systems struggled to cope with the downpours.

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Among the confirmed fatalities, emergency responders reported a 64‑year‑old man in San Diego killed by a falling tree, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy who died after his vehicle slid off a wet road into a power pole, and other residents lost to flood‑related conditions as the severe weather persisted.

Footage shows homes, cars buried in mud

Homes and vehicles were found buried across San Bernardino County, California, as the region reels from severe storms and flooding. Footage recorded on Thursday (December 25) showed cars and houses partially covered in thick layers of mud.

Authorities issue evacuation orders

Authorities issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders for residents in low‑lying and flood‑prone areas, with rescue teams carrying out multiple water rescues of people trapped by rising waters. Major highways and roadways were temporarily closed as floodwaters submerged sections of pavement and debris blocked key transportation routes, according to the New York Times.

Local officials warned that conditions would remain hazardous through the end of the week, with continued heavy rain and flash flood risk expected as the storm began moving through the region. The National Weather Service highlighted that saturated ground, in some places made less permeable by earlier wildfire burn scars, increased the likelihood of mudslides and debris flows in hillsides and canyon areas.

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Residents in affected areas were urged to stay off flooded roads, heed evacuation orders, and monitor local emergency alerts as recovery and rescue operations continued. Emergency crews, including fire departments and search‑and‑rescue teams, worked through Christmas to assist stranded families and secure damaged infrastructure.