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Tag: weather

  • Rain-soaked California still at risk of floods and high surf

    WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. — A strong storm system that brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California this week was expected to ease Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.

    Waves near the San Francisco Bay Area could reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) Friday, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding, and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe area, officials warned. Residents were told to be ready to evacuate the mountain town of Wrightwood about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles because of mudslides.

    Atmospheric rivers carried massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The storms were blamed for at least two deaths earlier in the week.

    The system brought the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in 54 years, the National Weather Service said.

    Roads in the 5,000-resident town of Wrightwood were covered in rocks, debris and thick mud on Thursday. With power out, a gas station and coffee shop running on generators were serving as hubs for residents and visitors.

    “It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.

    Lopiccolo said the family almost evacuated the previous day, when water washed away a chunk of their backyard. But they decided to stay and still celebrated the holiday. Lopiccolo got a new snowboard and e-bike.

    “We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.

    Davey Schneider hiked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) through rain and floodwater up to his shins from his Wrightwood residence Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house.

    “I wanted to help them out because I wasn’t confident that they were going to live,” Schneider said Thursday. “Fortunately, they all lived. They’re all okay — just a little bit scared.”

    Arlene Corte said roads in town turned into rivers, but her house was not damaged.

    “It could be a whole lot worse,” she said. “We’re here talking.”

    With more rain on the way, more than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area, said San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Shawn Millerick.

    “We’re ready,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”

    A falling tree killed a San Diego man Wednesday, news outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash.

    Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

    More wind and heavy snow was expected in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts created “near white-out conditions” and made mountain pass travel treacherous.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in six counties to allow state assistance.

    The state deployed resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Oakland, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

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  • Rain-Soaked California Still at Risk of Floods and High Surf

    WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A strong storm system that brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California this week was expected to ease Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.

    Waves near the San Francisco Bay Area could reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) Friday, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding, and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe area, officials warned. Residents were told to be ready to evacuate the mountain town of Wrightwood about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles because of mudslides.

    Atmospheric rivers carried massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The storms were blamed for at least two deaths earlier in the week.

    The system brought the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in 54 years, the National Weather Service said.

    Roads in the 5,000-resident town of Wrightwood were covered in rocks, debris and thick mud on Thursday. With power out, a gas station and coffee shop running on generators were serving as hubs for residents and visitors.

    “It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.

    Lopiccolo said the family almost evacuated the previous day, when water washed away a chunk of their backyard. But they decided to stay and still celebrated the holiday. Lopiccolo got a new snowboard and e-bike.

    “We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.

    Davey Schneider hiked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) through rain and floodwater up to his shins from his Wrightwood residence Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house.

    “I wanted to help them out because I wasn’t confident that they were going to live,” Schneider said Thursday. “Fortunately, they all lived. They’re all okay — just a little bit scared.”

    Arlene Corte said roads in town turned into rivers, but her house was not damaged.

    “It could be a whole lot worse,” she said. “We’re here talking.”

    With more rain on the way, more than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area, said San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Shawn Millerick.

    “We’re ready,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”

    A falling tree killed a San Diego man Wednesday, news outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash.

    Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

    More wind and heavy snow was expected in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts created “near white-out conditions” and made mountain pass travel treacherous.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in six counties to allow state assistance.

    The state deployed resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.

    Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Oakland, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • Denver records record-high temperature on Christmas Day

    Denver set a record-high temperature on Christmas Day, breaking the all-time mark, set in 2005.

    High temperatures on Thursday reached 70 degrees at Denver International Airport, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. That bested the 69-degree record set 20 years ago.

    The Mile High City has been shattering temperature records this winter amid unseasonably warm conditions.

    Sam Tabachnik

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  • Tornado warning issued for Santa Cruz County

    The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Santa Cruz County until 1 p.m. Thursday.

    The service reported that a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was 7 miles south of Santa Cruz at a speed of 35 mph.

    The areas impacted include Santa Cruz, Corralitos, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Live Oak, Soquel, Twin Lakes, Opal Cliffs, Felton, Aptos, Ben Lomond, Rio Del Mar, Eureka Canyon Road, Boulder Creek, Day Valley, Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley and Aptos Hills-Larkin.

    Residents in those areas were encouraged to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building away from windows. For people outside, in a mobile home or in a vehicle, the agency recommended relocating to the closest substantial shelter.

    “Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the agency said in its advisory. “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”

    Devan Patel

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  • Storm system threatens more rainfall Christmas Day over waterlogged Southern California

    LOS ANGELES — Rain from a powerful winter storm that swept across Southern California has begun to taper off, but another storm system was on the horizon for Christmas Day with showers and possible thunderstorms.

    Forecasters said Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned of flash flooding and mudslides. Areas scorched by wildfires in January saw evacuation warnings as heavy rains and gusty winds brought mudslides and debris flows.

    Many flood areas were in burn scar zones, which were stripped of vegetation by fire and are less able to absorb water.

    San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars Wednesday when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood, a resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear how many were rescued.

    Firefighters also went door to door to check homes, and the area was under a shelter-in-place order, officials said. An evacuation order was issued for Lytle Creek, also in the San Gabriel Mountains.

    Travis Guenther and his family were trapped in Lytle Creek after roaring waters washed out the only bridge in or out of their neighborhood. More than a dozen neighbors took shelter at a community center or found hotel rooms.

    “Everybody that left to go to work this morning is stuck,” he said. “Half the families are here, and half the families are on the other side of the creek.”

    Guenther said he had plenty of supplies and was coordinating with other in the community of about 280 people. Two nurses who live on his street offered to help anyone who may need medical attention.

    Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a resident of the mountain town for 45 years, said a wildfire in 2024 left much of the terrain without tree coverage.

    The storm also stranded Dillan Brown, his wife and 14-month-old daughter at a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers for about another day. Roads leading off the mountain and to a grocery store became blocked by rocks and debris, Brown said.

    A resident learned of his situation and posted a call for help in a Facebook group. In less than an hour, neighbors showed up with more than enough supplies to ride out the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes.

    “I think we’re a little sad and upset that we’re not going to be home with our families,” Brown said, but the “kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling.”

    Residents around burn scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County were also ordered to evacuate.

    Areas along the coast including Malibu were under flood warnings until Wednesday evening, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Several roads including a part of Interstate 5 near the Burbank Airport closed due to flooding.

    The storms were the result of multiple atmospheric rivers carrying massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

    Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

    Heavy snow and gusts created “near white-out conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada and made mountain pass trave treacherous. Officials said there was a “considerable” avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe, and a winter storm warning was in effect until Friday morning.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow state assistance in storm response.

    The state deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.

    The California Highway Patrol reported a seemingly weather-related crash south of Sacramento in which a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died. James Caravallo, who was with the agency for 19 years, was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento, Jessica Hill in Las Vegas and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

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  • Northern California live storm updates: Lightning strikes; flooding prompts evacuation warnings

    A storm that moved into Northern California overnight is resulting in power outages, flooded roads and downed tree limbs.The KCRA 3 weather team issued an Alert Day for both Wednesday and Thursday, which indicates that conditions could be a risk to public safety.Snowy conditions can also lead to chain controls. When they are in effect, all vehicles except those with four-wheel drive and snow tires equipped are required to install chains. Also, the speed limit for Interstate 80 is reduced to 30 mph, while the limit is 25 mph on Highway 50.Find the full forecast here.Track power outages here.We are tracking live weather updates as we receive them. Live updates 6:30 p.m.: Traffic is being held on I-80 in both directions at Doner Summit do to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said. 5:15 p.m.: A tree fell on a home in Carmichael on Wednesday. The people who lived there were out of town and no one was hurt.5 p.m.: A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for a portion of the Sacramento area. People are being asked to be cautious of flooded roads, creeks and streams as well as poor drainage areas. The warning is expected to last until 7:30 p.m.4:50 p.m.: About 344 SMUD customers are without power, according to the utility’s outage map.See the map here. 4 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for the Sacramento area. Until about 4:45 p.m., pea-sized hail and winds of about 30 miles per hour are expected. 3:15 p.m.: Evacuation warnings are in effect for the Cosgrove Creek area near Valley Springs and La Contenta due to rising water levels , according to the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services. Under an evacuation warning residents are advised of a potential threat to life and property. There is a possibility for an evacuation order.To see the evacuation warning zone on a map, click here. 12:30 p.m.: Traffic on westbound I-80 is being turned around at Truckee and Donner Lake Interchange due to multiple spinouts.12 p.m.: As of this writing, there are at least 96,000 utility customers across California without power, according to a state dashboard.In San Joaquin County, PG&E said about 2,600 customers in the Stockton area lost their power.11 a.m.: The Imaginarium at Cal Expo is closed Wednesday because of wind-related concerns.10:57 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol Yuba-Sutter division shared video of a water rescue that happened midnight Wednesday near Highway 113.10:27 a.m.: The Amador Fire Department said it is at Westover Field on Airport Road in Sutter Creek, filling sandbags for anyone who needs them.10 a.m.: As of this writing, there are roughly 123,000 utility customers across California without power.9:55 a.m.: These are chain controls as of this writing.Interstate 80Eastbound traffic: Chains are required from Kingvale to Truckee.Westbound traffic: Chains are required from the Donner Lake Interchange to 4.7 miles west of Kingvale. Traffic is being turned around at Truckee and Donner Lake Interchange due to multiple spinouts.Highway 50Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers.9:51 a.m.: The Grass Valley Fire Department shared pictures of its firefighters handling storm-related issues in the city.9:45 a.m.: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. talked about its efforts in addressing storm-related damages.9:15 a.m.: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District spoke about what it’s doing to address storm-related damages.9 a.m.: See our updated forecast in the video player below.7:55 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol said at least one person died in what appears to be a weather-related crash.CHP said a vehicle crashed into a telephone pole at Franklin Boulevard and Point Pleasant Road. That was reported shortly before 6 a.m.7:40 a.m.: See weather highlights from our 7 a.m. newscast in the video player below.7:10 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol East Sacramento division said its officers are responding to multiple reports of vehicle spinouts amid stormy conditions.7 a.m.: A statewide dashboard indicates that at least 138,000 utility customers across California are without power.6:55 a.m.: These are chain controls for mountain travel as of this writing. When chain controls are in effect, chains are required on all vehicles except those with four-wheel drive and snow tires equipped.Also, the speed limit is reduced with chain controls. On Interstate 80, the speed limit is 30 mph, while Highway 50’s speed limit is 25 mph.Interstate 80Chains required from Kingvale in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.Highway 50Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers.6:20 a.m.: Traffic expert Brian Hickey observed flooding along Interstate 80 at Norwood Avenue. Motorists were seen driving through the flooding.6 a.m.: See weather highlights from our 6 a.m. newscast in the video player below.4 a.m.: KCRA 3 spotted a tree that fell on a home along Cedarhurst Way in the Carmichael area of Sacramento County.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A storm that moved into Northern California overnight is resulting in power outages, flooded roads and downed tree limbs.

    The KCRA 3 weather team issued an Alert Day for both Wednesday and Thursday, which indicates that conditions could be a risk to public safety.

    Snowy conditions can also lead to chain controls. When they are in effect, all vehicles except those with four-wheel drive and snow tires equipped are required to install chains. Also, the speed limit for Interstate 80 is reduced to 30 mph, while the limit is 25 mph on Highway 50.

    Find the full forecast here.

    Track power outages here.

    We are tracking live weather updates as we receive them.

    Live updates

    6:30 p.m.: Traffic is being held on I-80 in both directions at Doner Summit do to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said.

    5:15 p.m.: A tree fell on a home in Carmichael on Wednesday. The people who lived there were out of town and no one was hurt.

    5 p.m.: A flash flood warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for a portion of the Sacramento area. People are being asked to be cautious of flooded roads, creeks and streams as well as poor drainage areas. The warning is expected to last until 7:30 p.m.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    4:50 p.m.: About 344 SMUD customers are without power, according to the utility’s outage map.

    See the map here.

    4 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for the Sacramento area. Until about 4:45 p.m., pea-sized hail and winds of about 30 miles per hour are expected.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.


    3:15 p.m.: Evacuation warnings are in effect for the Cosgrove Creek area near Valley Springs and La Contenta due to rising water levels , according to the Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services. Under an evacuation warning residents are advised of a potential threat to life and property. There is a possibility for an evacuation order.

    To see the evacuation warning zone on a map, click here.

    12:30 p.m.: Traffic on westbound I-80 is being turned around at Truckee and Donner Lake Interchange due to multiple spinouts.

    12 p.m.: As of this writing, there are at least 96,000 utility customers across California without power, according to a state dashboard.

    In San Joaquin County, PG&E said about 2,600 customers in the Stockton area lost their power.

    11 a.m.: The Imaginarium at Cal Expo is closed Wednesday because of wind-related concerns.

    10:57 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol Yuba-Sutter division shared video of a water rescue that happened midnight Wednesday near Highway 113.

    This content is imported from Facebook.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.


    10:27 a.m.: The Amador Fire Department said it is at Westover Field on Airport Road in Sutter Creek, filling sandbags for anyone who needs them.

    This content is imported from Facebook.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    10 a.m.: As of this writing, there are roughly 123,000 utility customers across California without power.

    9:55 a.m.: These are chain controls as of this writing.

    Interstate 80

    Eastbound traffic: Chains are required from Kingvale to Truckee.

    Westbound traffic: Chains are required from the Donner Lake Interchange to 4.7 miles west of Kingvale. Traffic is being turned around at Truckee and Donner Lake Interchange due to multiple spinouts.

    Highway 50

    Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers.

    9:51 a.m.: The Grass Valley Fire Department shared pictures of its firefighters handling storm-related issues in the city.

    This content is imported from Facebook.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    9:45 a.m.: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. talked about its efforts in addressing storm-related damages.

    9:15 a.m.: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District spoke about what it’s doing to address storm-related damages.

    9 a.m.: See our updated forecast in the video player below.

    7:55 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol said at least one person died in what appears to be a weather-related crash.

    CHP said a vehicle crashed into a telephone pole at Franklin Boulevard and Point Pleasant Road. That was reported shortly before 6 a.m.

    7:40 a.m.: See weather highlights from our 7 a.m. newscast in the video player below.


    7:10 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol East Sacramento division said its officers are responding to multiple reports of vehicle spinouts amid stormy conditions.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    7 a.m.: A statewide dashboard indicates that at least 138,000 utility customers across California are without power.

    6:55 a.m.: These are chain controls for mountain travel as of this writing. When chain controls are in effect, chains are required on all vehicles except those with four-wheel drive and snow tires equipped.

    Also, the speed limit is reduced with chain controls. On Interstate 80, the speed limit is 30 mph, while Highway 50’s speed limit is 25 mph.

    Interstate 80

    Chains required from Kingvale in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.

    Highway 50

    Chains are required from Twin Bridges to Meyers.

    6:20 a.m.: Traffic expert Brian Hickey observed flooding along Interstate 80 at Norwood Avenue. Motorists were seen driving through the flooding.

    6 a.m.: See weather highlights from our 6 a.m. newscast in the video player below.

    4 a.m.: KCRA 3 spotted a tree that fell on a home along Cedarhurst Way in the Carmichael area of Sacramento County.

    Tree falls on home along Cedarhurst Way in Sacramento County

    REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP
    Click here to see our interactive traffic map.
    TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR
    Click here to see our interactive radar.
    DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST
    Here is where you can download our app.
    Follow our KCRA weather team on social media

    • Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.
    • Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook
    • Meteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.
    • Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.
    • Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.

    Watch our forecasts on TV or online
    Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.

    We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Denver weather: Record heat forecast in city on Christmas, snow returns to mountains

    Denver is on track to see its hottest Christmas in history, according to the National Weather Service.

    Temperatures are forecast to peak at 70 degrees in Denver on Christmas, which would break the 69-degree record set in 2005, according to weather service records.

    Fire weather conditions have been elevated to near-critical and will threaten the foothills on Christmas, according to a hazardous weather outlook. Record and near-record holiday heat is also expected across the metro area and Eastern Plains, weather service forecasters said.

    As of Wednesday morning, other Christmas heat forecasts included:

    • 68 degrees in Boulder, which would tie the city’s record set in 2005;
    • 49 degrees in Breckenridge, which would break the city’s 47-degree record set in 1906;
    • 70 degrees in Brighton, which would break the 63-degree record set in 1980;
    • 67 degrees in Castle Rock, which would break the 66-degree record set in 1971;
    • 57 degrees in Estes Park, which would break the 54-degree record set in 1959;
    • 62 degrees in Evergreen, which would tie the record set in 1971;
    • 70 degrees in Lakewood, which would break the 63-degree record set in 1963;
    • 69 degrees in Limon, which would tie the record set in 1955;
    • And 50 degrees in Walden, which would break the 45-degree record set in 1994.

    Lauren Penington

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  • El Dorado Hills residents prepare for strong winds and possible power outages

    Residents of El Dorado Hills are preparing for strong winds expected to last through Christmas Day, with concerns about potential power outages in the area. Josh McGee expressed confidence in his Christmas-themed skeleton decoration, saying, “I got faith in Skully. He’s made it through a couple of winters with us already, so I have faith in him. The hat might be gone, but we’ll get it back.”McGee’s giant skeleton sits in the front yard of his El Dorado Hills home wearing a Santa hat and scarf.His neighbor Tom Molyneux-Elliot said that he is reconsidering his decision to put out the trash early, saying, “I might be picking up garbage in the morning.”Despite the subtle jokes from these two, the anticipated strong gusts have put residents on high alert for possible power outages. “I have generators and everything, but, you know, PG&E is notoriously unreliable during this kind of situation,” McGee said. “They don’t have the best track record of keeping power on.”Molyneux-Elliot added, “We used to lose power a lot, but the last couple of years, it’s been better. Hopefully, that won’t happen again this year. But I know up the hill it definitely gets a little worse.”PG&E has assured residents that they are fully staffed and have crews ready to respond to any outages caused by the high winds. Jeff Weeks from Ace Hardware at Town Center reported a steady flow of customers preparing for the storm. “We didn’t anticipate quite the run on things we have here,” he said. The lighting section shelves were bare on Tuesday night, and Weeks mentioned that the store plans to stay open on Christmas Eve for those who might need supplies during the storm.”Come in early, get the things that you think you’re going to need,” he advised. He emphasized the importance of being prepared with “generators, candles, lights, flashlights, huge things, batteries, we have all those kinds of things.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. —

    Residents of El Dorado Hills are preparing for strong winds expected to last through Christmas Day, with concerns about potential power outages in the area.

    Josh McGee expressed confidence in his Christmas-themed skeleton decoration, saying, “I got faith in Skully. He’s made it through a couple of winters with us already, so I have faith in him. The hat might be gone, but we’ll get it back.”

    McGee’s giant skeleton sits in the front yard of his El Dorado Hills home wearing a Santa hat and scarf.

    His neighbor Tom Molyneux-Elliot said that he is reconsidering his decision to put out the trash early, saying, “I might be picking up garbage in the morning.”

    Despite the subtle jokes from these two, the anticipated strong gusts have put residents on high alert for possible power outages.

    “I have generators and everything, but, you know, PG&E is notoriously unreliable during this kind of situation,” McGee said. “They don’t have the best track record of keeping power on.”

    Molyneux-Elliot added, “We used to lose power a lot, but the last couple of years, it’s been better. Hopefully, that won’t happen again this year. But I know up the hill it definitely gets a little worse.”

    PG&E has assured residents that they are fully staffed and have crews ready to respond to any outages caused by the high winds.

    Jeff Weeks from Ace Hardware at Town Center reported a steady flow of customers preparing for the storm.

    “We didn’t anticipate quite the run on things we have here,” he said.

    The lighting section shelves were bare on Tuesday night, and Weeks mentioned that the store plans to stay open on Christmas Eve for those who might need supplies during the storm.

    “Come in early, get the things that you think you’re going to need,” he advised.

    He emphasized the importance of being prepared with “generators, candles, lights, flashlights, huge things, batteries, we have all those kinds of things.”

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Watch These Live Cams of the Los Angeles Area Rain and Flood Risk During Christmas Week

    Below are nine live video feeds from spots in and around Los Angeles.

    Pop culture depictions of sunny Southern California at Christmas are always at least a little exaggerated, but this year they’re dead wrong. The sky will open up and dump biblical amounts of rain on the LA area during the holiday week. One area in the Angeles National Forest, Mt. Wilson, received a downright horrifying “high-end” forecast of 9.5 inches between now until December 25. For reference, it’s common knowledge around here that we should expect 15 inches per year in Los Angeles. 

    It won’t be that bad across all of Southern California, but the National Weather Service forecast office for Los Angeles currently (as of this writing) carries the headline “Dangerous Floods this Week!!!”—with three exclamation marks. A huge swath of the greater LA area, including Ventura County, the San Fernando Valley, Downtown LA, and parts of eastern Los Angeles County are bracing for rock and mud slides, flooded roads, and overflowing rivers and streams. 

    If you’re in the area, and you need emergency information, sign up for the the alert system from the Emergency Management Department. For non-emergencies, why not have a look at storm conditions on these webcams? Hobbyists, realtors, and hotels often set up live cams for fun and profit—or, sometimes intentionally to document the weather. Whatever the original purpose, any live cam can become genuinely useful when it gets this rainy.

    Live cams sometimes go dead during major weather events, and new ones sometimes show up, so this article may be updated from now until December 26.

    Downtown Los Angeles skyline

    This camera setup is in East Los Angeles, pointed west toward the skyline. It will offer a decent glimpse at overall atmospheric conditions. 

    Ventura and the Channel Islands

    Looking out at the San Buenaventura Coastline from Ventura, you probably cannot see the Channel Islands in a rainstorm, but this webcam view includes a neighborhood, a little bit of beach, and a peek at conditions on the roads. 

    San Bernardino Mountains

    The harshest precipitation is expected to stretch all the way east to the Inland Empire. Out in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, seen in this live view, that will mean snow. 

     Venice Beach number 1

    This live cam is used to promote the Venice V Hotel. It offers a dynamic, shifting view of the beach and boardwalk, which is famously just a board-less concrete promenade.  

    Venice Beach number 2

    Another view of Venice Beach

    Manhattan Beach and the Santa Monica Mountains

    From this moving camera in El Porto, Manhattan Beach, you can see the surf, and the Santa Monica Mountains off in the distance. 

    Santa Monica

    This wildly shifting and zooming live cam lets you see all of Santa Monica off in the distance, along with detailed views of the beach, the boardwalk, and the rides at Pacific Park. 

    Huntington Beach is south of Los Angeles, but still expected to see a downpour. This view shows conditions on Huntington Beach Pier, and the surrounding waves. 

     

    Pine Cove

    This live cam shows traffic on Highway 243 somewhere in the mountain communities of Idyllwild and Pine Cove, well to the east of Los Angeles.

    Mike Pearl

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  • How much snow will New England see today?

    We’re focused on the snowflakes Tuesday – although it still doesn’t seem like something that will impinge on your travel plans.

    We’re expecting the snow to break out close to noon and carry through the afternoon from time to time. At no point does the pacing seem moderate or heavy.

    Along the immediate coast and South Shore, we should see it mix with rain as temps rise above freezing. Later overnight, the snow will taper to flurries and shut down. The last gasp of this system will be some ocean effect snow that kisses the coast/Cape Cod into late morning and early afternoon Wednesday. We’re not expecting much from this, since temperatures will still be in the mid-30s.

    What is more apparent is the gusty wind, at times topping 40 mph at the coast through midday. Temperatures will fall back near freezing in the afternoon.

    More snow chances after Christmas

    We’ll have a quiet Christmas with some clouds and a moderation in temps, then watch two separate storms sweep through for the weekend.

    First up is a glancing shot of snow on Saturday. It’s light and fluffy with cold temps and very little wind.

    We’ll see the heaviest amounts closer to Connecticut, with lighter amounts – as of this typing, we’re thinking lowest end of the scale – in central and eastern Mass.

    Sunday’s event is a juicier storm, with the potential for either snow, ice, and rain or all snow and a bit of ice. Track is less certain with the Sunday storm (obviously), so this will be revisited several times in the coming days. Things settle down next week, as the cold carries us into the New Year.

    Enjoy the holiday season! And if you’re traveling, please be safe.

    Pete Bouchard

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  • OEM Says to Be Prepared for Strong Wind Storm Around Christmas Eve – KXL

    PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Weather Service in Portland says a wind storm is likely hitting the area sometime on Christmas Eve.

    They say they do expect it to last for around 6 hours and include gusts of 50 to 70 miles per hour along the Oregon Coast and 45 to 58 miles per hour inland.  The Oregon Department of Emergency Management says they are working with officials throughout the state to be ready to help provide services.

    They say to expect power outages in certain areas and possible snow storms in the Cascades at higher elevations.

    More about:

    Brett Reckamp

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  • Flash flooding in northern California leads to soaked roads, water rescues and one death

    REDDING, Calif. — Heavy rain and flash flooding soaked roads in northern California, leading to water rescues from vehicles and homes and at least one confirmed death, authorities said.

    In Redding, police said they received numerous calls for stranded motorists on Sunday who tried to drive through flooded areas. One person in Redding died, Mayor Mike Littau posted online. He did not provide further information.

    Redding has about 93,000 people and is about 160 miles (257 kilometers) north of Sacramento.

    Between 3 and 6 inches (7.6 centimeters and 15.2 centimeters) had fallen by Sunday night in parts of two counties, the National Weather Service said.

    In the mountain pass area of Donner Summit, firefighters in Truckee extended a ladder to stranded residents at a house along the South Yuba River, the fire department posted online Sunday. No injuries were reported.

    The weather service office in Sacramento had said a series of warm atmospheric rivers would bring moderate to heavy rain to the Valley, foothills, and mountains the week of Christmas.

    Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of water vapor that form over an ocean and flow through the sky, transporting moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes.

    Earlier this month, warm weather and air and unusual weather conditions tracing back as far as tropical cyclone flooding in Indonesia helped supercharge stubborn atmospheric rivers that drenched Washington state with nearly 5 trillion gallons (19 trillion liters) of rain in a week, threatening record flood levels, meteorologists said.

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  • Winter storm to hit SoCal with heavy rain on Christmas week. Here’s the timeline

    What to Know

    • A Pineapple Express storm that will dump several inches of rain across most of the region.
    • The heaviest rainfall is expected to arrive late Tuesday, heading into Christmas Eve on Wednesday.
    • A flood watch was issued beginning Tuesday afternoon for much of LA County and recent burn scar areas.
    • Monday’s high temperature is expected to reach 67 degrees in downtown LA, then decrease gradually to 59 on Friday.

    Southern California is in for a wet Christmas week, with four days of rain expected to begin Tuesday, forecasters said Sunday.

    A flood watch was issued for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for much of Los Angeles County, with mud and debris flows possible across foothill and mountain areas, including recent burn scars, according to the National Weather Service.

    Rain is expected to arrive in multiple waves starting late Tuesday and continuing through Saturday, with varying amounts each day, according to NBC4 Meteorologist Belen De Leon.

    Here’s a rain timeline:

    Tuesday: The system will bring light to moderate showers with less than a half-inch of rain expected.

    Wednesday (Christmas Eve): The heaviest part of the storm will start early Wednesday with heavy rainfall expected on Christmas Eve along with “very strong wings,” accoridingt ot he National Weather Service.

    Thursday (Christmas): While the worst of the storm will likely be Wednesday, periods of rain, possibly heavy at times, are expected on Christmas Day. 

    Friday-Saturday: Moist south to southwest flow will continue to usher in sporadic showers to the area Friday
    and Saturday, though rain amounts by that time should be under a quarter inch per hour.

    Possible hazards include flooding concerns, hazardous mountain conditions and could cause major travel disruptions throughout the week. The forecast prompted city officials on Friday to take preparations for the expected rainfall.

    Snow is not expected to be a major factor with this event, with levels dropping to around 7,000 feet Thursday and Friday.

    Missael Soto and City News Service

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  • Colorado power outages disrupt atomic clock in Boulder

    Power shut off across Colorado last week as hurricane-force winds swept across the state. In Boulder, one of those outages caused time to briefly stand still.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Internet Time Service Facility in Boulder lost power Wednesday afternoon, disrupting the agency’s atomic clock, spokesperson Rebecca Jacobson said.

    The atomic clock, which uses cesium atoms to measure the exact length of a second, is used for GPS satellite networks, data centers, laboratories, aerospace, telecommunications, power generation and other systems that require ultra-precise timekeeping.

    “In short, the atomic ensemble time scale at our Boulder campus has failed due to a prolonged utility power outage,” NIST researcher Jeffrey Sherman wrote in an email announcing the outage to users. “One impact is that the Boulder Internet Time Services no longer have an accurate time reference.”

    When the outage started on Wednesday, some of NIST’s on-campus time distribution systems lapsed before the backup generator kicked in, causing a four-microsecond delay to the atomic clock, Jacobson said.

    At least one “crucial” generator at the facility failed after the outage, according to Sherman’s email.

    “For comparison, it takes about 350,000 microseconds to blink or 150,000 microseconds to snap your fingers,” Jacobson said.

    Lauren Penington

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  • Wind gusts up to 100 mph batter Colorado: Everything you need to know about power outages, road closures and more

    Xcel’s planned public safety power stoppages collided with wind-related electricity outages around the Front Range in Colorado on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands without power.

    The loss of power affected Regional Transportation District train lines, closed schools and canceled Denver holiday events while high winds forced precautionary road closures and potential ground stoppages at Denver International Airport.

    Wind gust speeds hit triple digits in the afternoon — the NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder recorded gusts over 100 mph just after 4 p.m., according to the lab’s monitoring equipment.

    Here’s a roundup of everything you need to know about how the heavy wind has affected Colorado:

    Thursday power outages

    Power outages continue for 108,000 Coloradans with more high winds on the way

    Thursday weather forecast

    Colorado weather: Strong winds, fire danger continue into Saturday

    Wednesday power outages

    Winds tear across Front Range, causing widespread outages, closures

    Xcel’s planned outages, wind cut power to 100K; more electricity cut-offs possible Friday

    Wind-related road closures

    Colorado road conditions: High winds close roads, highways across Front Range

    Denver International Airport delays

    Ground stops, delays ‘probable’ at DIA during Wednesday windstorm

    Weather and wind gust forecasts

    Colorado weather: Wind gusts up to 90 mph likely as power outages hit Front Range

    RTD service disruptions

    Planned power outages, strong winds to affect RTD trains

    School closures

    Several school districts close or cancel classes due to potential wind-related power cuts in foothills

    Other wind-related closures, cancellations

    Canceled due to high winds: Wednesday’s drone show, holiday tree, Christkindlmarket

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  • St. Pete invests additional $1M for Shore Acres pump station

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg city council approved a state grant agreement last Thursday to invest an additional $1 million for a pump station in the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg was awarded a $1 million matching state grant for a pump station in Shore Acres

    • The pump station is part of a much larger $33M flood mitigation project 

    • Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026

    • State Rep. Lindsay Cross (D) and Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R) secured the state grant 
    • MORE INFORMATION: Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project


    “I was honored to be able to carry a budget request with Senator Nick DiCeglie for that money,” said State Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. “We know it doesn’t fix all of the problems but it helps.”

    The pump station will be located under the roadway at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NE and Bayshore Boulevard, according to the Director of Engineering and Capital Improvements Brejesh Prayman.

    “The discharge piping will then extend underground easterly towards Tampa Bay,” he said. “The existing outfall will be modified to allow the new piping to convey stormwater to Tampa Bay.”

    Prayman said the station will have six pumps installed allowing for redundancy and will have emergency backup power.

    “On average the pumps which will be installed underground are expected to be approximately 10 feet tall,” he said. “Giving a sense of the stormwater capacity based on the size of the pumps.”

    The discharge piping from the pump station will include a design feature of creating an inverted “U” which will act as a flow control not allowing high tide to flow back into the stormwater pump station and eliminates the need for a backflow preventer, according to Prayman.

    A building for the electrical components will be constructed on the right of way east of Bayshore Boulevard which will be at an elevation above the FEMA floodplain. Pending permit approvals, construction is expected to begin in summer 2026 and will take one year to complete.

    The relief can’t come soon enough for the lowest-lying neighborhood in St. Petersburg. Last year, Hurricane Helene flooded nearly 2,200 homes, which was 82 percent of the neighborhood. Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said he’s frustrated with the city’s timeline.

    “My honest opinion, the timeline sucks,” he said. “We were told it was going to start September of this year.”

    Despite wanting to see the project happen faster, Batdorf said he’s grateful for a shovel-ready project, which should eliminate sunny-day flooding.

    “I’m excited to see that this is finally going to happen,” he said. “It can’t come soon enough.”

    The pump station is part of a much larger flood mitigation project for Shore Acres, which has been estimated to cost $33 million. The project also includes box culverts, backflow preventers and elevating sections of roadway and intersections.

    Rep. Cross said these types of projects are really easy to champion in Tallahassee.

    “It was a very compelling project for the legislature to fund because we knew it’s shovel. We’re ready to use this money. It’s part of a larger comprehensive plan,” she said. “The city has got skin in the game with significant amount of match.”

    Josh Rojas

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  • Florida freeze warning issued as temperatures expected to plunge

    People living in northern Florida can expect temperatures to remain cold at least through Monday night, with National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a freeze warning on Monday afternoon.

    Recent freeze warnings across Florida mark a significant shift in the state’s typically mild winter climate, as a cold front driven by Arctic air brings sub-freezing temperatures to the Sunshine State. These low temperatures pose threats to agriculture, sensitive vegetation, outdoor plumbing, and vulnerable populations—underscoring the importance of timely preparedness and action for residents and farmers across the state. Authorities emphasize the potential for crop damage, risks to outdoor animals, and health hazards for the homeless, elderly, and young children during these unusually cold events.

    “Appropriate action should be taken to ensure tender vegetation and outdoor pets have adequate protection from the cold temperatures,” NWS Jacksonville said in the freeze warning. “Young children, the elderly and the homeless are especially vulnerable to the cold. Take measures to protect them.”

    The NWS offices in Jacksonville and Tallahassee have issued freeze warnings that will go into effect on Monday evening and remain in place through Tuesday morning. Newsweek reached out to both offices by phone for comment.

    According to the urgent bulletins, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit are expected in parts of the Florida Panhandle and northern regions. Temperatures as low as 24 degrees Fahrenheit were expected in the Jacksonville forecast region.

    Southern Georgia and parts of southeast Alabama, as well as sections of coastal and inland Georgia, are also included in these warnings. Freeze Warnings indicate that temperatures are forecast to fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period, making significant impacts on both residential and commercial crops likely. The NWS specifies that hard freeze conditions, with sustained readings below 28 degrees Fahrenheit, can kill most vegetation if prolonged.

    The freeze warnings advise residents to protect tender plants and provide for outdoor pets. The NWS cautions that young children, the elderly, and unsheltered individuals face increased risks from cold exposure and urges protection for outdoor plumbing, which may be susceptible to bursting in freezing conditions. Recommendations include wrapping exposed pipes, draining sprinkler systems, and allowing faucets to drip slowly overnight.

    Looking further out, Florida and much of the rest of the U.S. have a high chance of above-average temperatures according to outlooks from the NWS Climate Prediction Center. The eight-to-14-day temperature outlooks show that the Florida panhandle has a 70 to 80 percent chance of above-average temperatures, with the rest of the state facing a 50 to 70 percent chance. The outlook is valid from December 23 to 29.

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  • Critical fire weather, strong winds may cause Colorado power outages

    Coloradans on the Front Range may lose power this week as strong winds and critical wildfire conditions hit the state, Xcel Energy warned customers on Monday.

    Strong winds will blow across Colorado starting Wednesday afternoon and may prompt a “targeted Public Safety Power Shutoff” to reduce wildfire risks, according to the Xcel alert.

    Fire danger will be elevated because of warm, dry weather over the last several weeks, including a recent 10-day stretch of near-record temperatures on the Front Range, the utility said.

    Denver weather: Near-record temperatures forecast for city

    Up to 40 mph wind gusts are forecast for the Denver area on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

    “Energy crews will restore power as quickly as safe conditions permit,” Xcel officials stated in a news release. “Xcel Energy’s top priority is protecting customers and communities.”

    During a public safety power shutoff, Xcel proactively cuts off power to areas with an elevated wildfire risk, according to the utility.

    “Proactively shutting off power is not a step we take lightly,” the company stated on its website. “We consider weather, wind speeds, relative humidity, fuel moisture and temperature as well as critical customers and infrastructure before deciding to implement a PSPS.”

    Power restoration will begin after the high winds and fire danger subside, according to the website.

    The timeline for restoration can range from several hours to several days, depending on the area, utility officials said. Crews need to patrol the entire line to ensure it’s safe before it can be re-energized.

    Even if Xcel does not proactively shut off power, the utility still expects to implement what it calls “enhanced powerline safety settings” on Wednesday.

    Lauren Penington

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  • It will be a frigid start Monday with wind chills near zero degrees

    After receiving the first measurable snowfall in Boston in 300 days, the snow tapers off along the coast overnight. Some areas on Cape Cod picked up as much as 4-5 inches of snow, but most communities stayed closer to an inch or less.

    Now, the attention turns to the frigid start to the work and school week. Temperatures fall into the teens overnight, and when you add in the strong wind, wind chill values could drop to near zero degrees by sunrise Monday.

    It stays gusty and cold all day Monday with highs in the 20s and wind chills in the teens. Tuesday starts out cold in the 20s, but it will not be as windy.

    There is a warming trend through the middle of the week which gets temperatures into the low to mid 40s, closer to average for mid-December. We are already tracking the next cold front that arrives Friday morning. At this point, it looks like it will be a mostly rain event, but another blast of cold air returns for Saturday.

    Leigh Spann

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  • Philadelphia schools to open late Monday due to snow and bitter cold

    Philadelphia schools will open late on Monday, Dec. 15, as the region cleans up after the weekend snowstorm and deals with bitter cold temperatures.

    All School District of Philadelphia schools – including Early Childhood Centers and the Dr. Constance E. Clayton Education Center – as well as archdiocesan high schools and Catholic elementary schools in Philly will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday.

    “Students who arrive late due to weather-related challenges will not be marked late, or will be excused if absent, upon receipt of a note from a parent or guardian,” a school district spokesperson wrote. “Staff who arrive late will be marked with an excused lateness. All outdoor activities scheduled for tomorrow will be moved indoors.”

    You can view the full list of school delays and closures across the region here.

    Several inches of snow fell across the Philadelphia region late Saturday into Sunday morning. While the snow is gone, bitter cold temperatures are gripping the region. Temperatures will be in the teens late Sunday night and feel below zero across the area. The cold continues on Monday with highs around 30 and temperatures that feel like the upper teens throughout the day.

    David Chang

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