Potential for Mudslides and Flooding Persists as California Storms Ease

The formidable storm system unleashing unrelenting gusts, precipitation, and snowfall throughout California this week is expected to diminish by Friday. However, risks remain for coastal surges, flash floods in the vicinity of Los Angeles, and possible avalanches in the Sierra Nevada region.

Officials caution that the San Francisco Bay Area might see swells reaching 25 feet on Friday. Parts of Southern California may face inundation threats, while the Lake Tahoe vicinity could experience avalanches. Residents in Wrightwood, a mountainous town approximately 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, have been advised to prepare for evacuations due to potential mudslides.

The storm system, arriving during one of the year's busiest travel weeks, was tied to two fatalities earlier in the week and left about 70,000 residences and businesses without electricity overnight.

The National Weather Service highlighted that this period marks the wettest Christmas season in 54 years for downtown Los Angeles.

According to the National Weather Service, "The saturated conditions throughout the area heighten flood risks. Any rainfall that occurs will swiftly translate into runoff."

On Thursday, roads in the small community of Wrightwood, home to around 5,000 residents, were clogged with stones, debris, and dense mud. In the absence of power, a gas station and a coffee shop, both operating on generators, have become gathering spots for locals and visitors.

With more precipitation looming, over 150 firefighters have been deployed to the area, according to San Bernardino County Fire representative Shawn Millerick.

"We are fully prepared," Millerick stated. "It's a full-scale effort right now."

A tragic incident involved a falling tree that claimed the life of a San Diego man on Wednesday, while in Sacramento, a sheriff's deputy was fatally involved in a weather-related road accident.

Coastal regions, including Malibu, were under flood watches extending through Friday afternoon, with advisories for winds and floods widespread across much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Although Southern California typically receives about half an inch to an inch of rain this time of year, forecast predictions indicate that many areas might record between four to eight inches this week, with mountainous regions receiving even more, as per National Weather Service specialist Mike Wofford.

Further blustery winds and intense snowfall are anticipated in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts have already created perilous, nearly whiteout conditions, complicating travel across mountain passes.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies across six counties to facilitate state aid.

The state is mobilizing resources and emergency personnel to various coastal and Southern Californian counties, with the California National Guard poised to assist if needed.