Another wave of heavy rain is expected to pound Southern California later on Christmas Day
Dec 25, 2025
Many Southern California residents woke up to sunshine and a reprieve from the rain on Christmas morning, but another storm surge is expected to pound the region later in the day and Thursday night, forecasters said, with more flooding, mudslides and downed trees possible.
“Locally heavy rain is e
xpected during the day (Thursday afternoon) and into early Friday morning, especially in the mountains, with rain rates up to a 0.50-0.75 inches per hour possible,” the National Weather Service said. “Given the amount of water that fell (Wednesday) it won’t take much additional rain to generate significant impacts, including additional mud and rock slides through the canyons and dangerous flooding on area roads and highways.”
A wind advisory will remain in effect until at least 3 p.m. Thursday.
Forecasters said another 2 to 5 inches of rain are likely to fall in the mountains during the second wave, but some other areas should receive less than 2 inches, unless isolated thunderstorms develop with heavy rains.
“Showers are expected to become more scattered Friday but most areas should get at least some additional rain through Friday and possible into early Saturday morning,” forecasters said.
Rainfall totals have almost doubled in some cases since the beginning of the storm. Here are the 48-hour rainfall totals as of Thursday morning, according to the NWS:
LA County:
San Gabriel mountains: 8-10 inches
The San Gabriel Valley: 3-4 inches
San Fernando Valley: 4-5 inches
Santa Monica mountains: 2-4 inches
La Cañada foothills: 3-4 inches
Orange County:
Dana Point: 1.5-2 inches
Huntington Beach: 1.5-2 inches
Laguna Beach: 1-1.5 inches
Santa Ana mountains: 3-4 inches
Inland Empire:
Riverside: 1.5-2 inches
Chino: 2-2.5 inches
Big Bear Lake: 3-4 inches
Cajon Pass: 1-1.5 inches
San Bernardino: 2-2.5 inches
San Bernardino mountains: 1.5-2 inches
The first wave of a dangerous atmospheric river storm dumped torrential rain on Southern California on Wednesday, with double-digit precipitation falling in some mountain areas, widespread debris flows and freeway flooding in urban areas. Cars got stuck on washed-out roads. Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect in vulnerable areas, including those near wildfire burn scars, across the region.
Residents can check the evacuation status of their neighborhoods at protect.genasys.com.
While freeways and some other roads were reopened late Wednesday, Mt. Baldy Road at Shin Road remained closed on Christmas morning because of slides, said California Highway Patrol Officer Sergio Garcia. Mud could be seen falling around trees and blocking the roadway.
Additional closures in the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday morning include Lytle Creek Road at Glen Helen Parkway and the full closure of all lanes on Highway 2 for 12 miles west of Highway 39.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for LA, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties and elsewhere in anticipation of the storm’s impacts. The declaration allows state agencies to pre-deploy resources, including additional emergency responders and equipment.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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