New Storm Brings the Mud in California
Michelle Meyers inspects her property, buried in mud after a series of storms, on Thursday in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
A powerful storm system moved into Southern California on Thursday, raising the possibility of the region’s wettest Christmas in years and heightening concerns about flooding and mudslides just one day after severe weather was blamed for at least two deaths.
Forecasters warned that additional rainfall could trigger debris flows in areas already saturated by earlier storms, particularly in regions burned by wildfires in January. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation warning for the mountain community of Wrightwood, citing a high risk of mudslides. County firefighters said they rescued several people Wednesday after mud and debris surged across a roadway leading into the town.
By Thursday, roads in the community of about 5,000 residents were coated with rocks, debris, and thick mud. Power outages left much of the town in the dark, with a gas station and coffee shop operating on generators serving as gathering points for locals and visitors. Across California, more than 120,000 customers were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
Thirteen-year-old Hunter Lopiccolo said his family nearly evacuated after part of their backyard was washed away but ultimately chose to stay and celebrate the holiday. “We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.
With more rain forecast, over 150 firefighters were positioned in the area, according to San Bernardino County Fire spokesperson Shawn Millerick. “We’re ready,” he said.
Elsewhere in the state, a falling tree killed a man in San Diego, and a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy died in what authorities said appeared to be a weather-related crash.
Meanwhile, the same storm system was pushing eastward and was expected to disrupt travel across the Midwest and Northeast. The National Weather Service warned that freezing rain and sleet could create hazardous conditions in parts of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Maryland, with significant ice accumulation threatening power lines and tree limbs. Heavy snow was forecast to spread across the Northeast early Friday.
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