Daijiworld Media Network – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Dec 27: At least four people have died in California after powerful storms battered the state over the Christmas holiday, triggering days of heavy rain, flooding and mudslides, while the northeastern United States braced for a major winter storm expected to dump heavy snowfall, including up to half a foot in New York City.
In California, authorities said a man was found dead on Friday inside a sedan partially submerged in mud in Lancaster, Los Angeles County. On Christmas Eve, Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy James Caravallo died in a single-vehicle crash while travelling to work at a correctional centre. Officials said wet road conditions caused by the storm were believed to have contributed to the accident.
In San Diego, Roberto Ruiz died on Wednesday after a large tree branch fell on him, sending him into cardiac arrest, while in Redding, 74-year-old Richard Michael Wilsey died on Sunday due to severe flooding, according to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
The storms were fuelled by an “atmospheric river” that brought intense rainfall across large parts of California. Flood watches remained in effect for the Los Angeles region through Saturday amid fears of runoff. Wrightwood, a mountain community northeast of Los Angeles, recorded nearly a foot of rain, with residents reporting floodwaters turning properties into flowing streams and burying vehicles in mud.
Emergency crews carried out multiple rescues during the holiday period, using air and boat teams to save residents stranded by rising waters, some of whom were pulled from rooftops. In San Bernardino County, officials said people were trapped inside homes by up to five feet of mud and water. The National Weather Service also confirmed a weak EF0 tornado with wind speeds of around 80 mph touched down in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, winter weather gripped the Northeast, with large parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts placed under winter storm warnings or advisories. By Friday evening, parts of the region had already received around seven inches of snow, with more expected overnight.
New York City officials warned residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, as snowfall rates were forecast to reach one to two inches per hour. The city could receive between five and nine inches of snow, with some areas seeing up to 11 inches. Upstate New York and parts of the Lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut and northeast New Jersey were expected to see even heavier accumulations.
The severe weather across both coasts disrupted holiday travel, contributing to more than 6,000 flight delays and 1,600 cancellations across the United States, with New York City area airports reporting the highest number of cancellations.
Forecasters said the storm system should weaken by Saturday, though icy roads and hazardous travel conditions were expected to persist into the morning hours.