Highway 2 – from Highway 138 in San Bernardino County to west of Mountain High – reopened Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce announced. It’s welcome news as the town struggles to repair following devastating floods on Christmas Eve.

“After a period of limited access, our town is excited to see guests return.” an announcement from Chamber president Janice Quick says. She encourages visitors to come experience “the small-town charm” of Wrightwood.

The main artery into town near Mountain High resort was damaged during winter storms that brought more than 16 inches of rain into the tourist town. Caltrans says Highway 2 will remain closed from Big Pines Highway to Glenwood Camp Road in Los Angeles County.

While it’s unknown exactly how many homes and businesses were impacted, news reports estimated at least 50 structures buried in several feet of mud.

While residents have been able to access the area in recent days, tourists were kept while repair work took place.

Mountain High, which also was damaged when rivers of water eroded the slopes, is not yet open, but most of the repair work has been completed, said John McColly, vice president of marketing for the resort.

They hope temperatures will drop in coming days, enough to make man-made snow so skiers and snowboarders can return, he said.

Meanwhile, local businesses are open and ready to serve, Quick said.

“Whether planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, now is the perfect time to come spend time in Wrightwood, relax, and reconnect with nature and community,” she said.

The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services is opening a center where residents in Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Phelan, Piñon Hills and Hesperia who were impacted by the storms can received support and assistance. The center will be open from Jan. 8 through Jan. 10 and transportation will be provided to those who need it.

RELATED: Storm recovery center opening for Wrightwood, Lytle Creek residents

“We’re focused on two things: keeping people safe and helping communities recover,” First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook said. “As response crews continue clearing roads and addressing storm damage, Local Assistance Centers will provide in-person support for residents navigating recovery needs.”

A local emergency for San Bernardino County was declared on Dec. 25, a day earlier a state of emergency was declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom, actions that make the county and its residents eligible for additional aid and can help connect residents with available local, state, federal and nonprofit recovery resources and guidance.

Representatives from the county, state and non-government organizations will be available to answer questions and connect people with services.

People who might have lost their jobs or had their businesses impacted can receive help. There will also be help for people dealing with their insurance companies, or for hiring a licensed contractor to repair or rebuild their homes.

The center is located at the Rick Novack Community Center, 13558 Palm St., Hesperia. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9,  and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Shuttle transportation to and from Care and Reception Centers to the assistance center will be available. Return transportation shuttle service is scheduled every 1–2 hours. Care and Reception Center pick-up locations are: 1275 CA-2, Wrightwood; 497 Lytle Creek Road, Lytle Creek, and 4176 Warbler Road, Phelan.

Information: prepare.sbcounty.gov/recoveryresources/

“Drier weather is expected Tuesday night through late in the week, with cold nights for many areas Wednesday night through Friday,” National Weather Service forecasters said.

In the Inland Empire, rain is expected to continue in some locations Monday. At March Air Reserve Base near Riverside and Moreno Valley, there’s a slight chance of showers Monday with partly sunny weather otherwise and a high expected of 59 degrees. Showers are likely Monday morning in Murrieta, where the high was expected to reach 61 degrees.

There will be a slimmer chance for showers across the Inland Empire on Tuesday. In San Bernardino and Riverside, sunny skies are expected as early as Wednesday.

In Los Angeles, partly sunny weather was forecast for the Van Nuys Airport area on Monday, with a high near 63. There’s a chance of rain there Tuesday with sunny weather forecast Wednesday and Thursday.

In Long Beach, similar partly sunny weather was forecast for Monday with a high near 62. A slight chance of rain was forecast there Tuesday with sunny weather expected Wednesday and Thursday.

In Orange County, forecasters predict highs of 63 in Anaheim and Newport Beach on Monday and lows of 51 and 53 degrees, respectively. There’s a slight chance of showers before 10 a.m. in Anaheim with the rest of the day expected to be partly sunny, and in Newport Beach, forecasters expect partly sunny conditions during the day with a chance of rain overnight.

An off-shore low pressure system will bring a 15% to 20% chance of up to a tenth of an inch of rain, mainly in the afternoon, on Tuesday across Orange County.

On Wednesday, conditions will be dry. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s on Tuesday and Wednesday for most of Orange County outside of the mountain areas.

Also in Orange County, the Orange County Fire Authority said crews on Sunday afternoon rescued a man clinging to a section of a culvert in cold, fast-moving water in a storm channel at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street in Westminster.

Rescued from cold, fast-moving water in Westminster.

Firefighters responded this afternoon to a man clinging to a section of a culvert in cold, fast-moving water in a storm channel at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street. pic.twitter.com/zhbgNs3JoP

— OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) January 5, 2026

Evacuation warnings across neighborhoods in Los Angeles County — especially in recent burn scars — remained in effect Sunday and residents were advised to prepare in case orders to evacuate are necessary.

In addition, a L.A. County Department of Public Health advisory warning beach users “to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas,” will be in effect until at least 4 p.m. Monday. “This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.”

Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro will remain closed until further notice following a Christmas Day sewage flow.

Hilda Solis, chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, said county departments were “actively monitoring conditions and stand ready to respond to emergencies as needed.”

Caltrans has issued an indefinite closure for the 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard known to experience mudslides between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive, in the unincorporated Topanga area. The reopening of the roadway was “dependent on improved weather and road conditions,” the agency said.

The Palisades Fire recovery work zone on PCH from Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace will remain open, “with crews on standby to respond to any storm impacts,” Caltrans said.

State Route 2 was closed from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb’s Ranch in La Canada Flintridge to state Route 138 in the Angeles National Forest.

To check on an evacuation status for a neighborhood, residents can visit the genasys map.

Motorists were also advised to stay off the roads if possible and to exercise extreme caution if they do drive.

State and local officials have precautions in place for weather-related emergency response needs. Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to pre-position fire and rescue personnel and resources in areas most at risk for flooding, mud, and debris flows — including parts of Southern California, with a particular eye toward burn scar areas.

Staff writer Andrea Klick contributed to this story.

The agency cites “saturated conditions” and says crews “will monitor and reassess road conditions daily as long as it is safe to do so.”

SR-27 TO CLOSE TONIGHT

SR-27 from PCH to Grand View Drive will close to the public at midnight Saturday, Jan. 3, (tonight) in anticipation of more rainstorms and debris flow. Reopening is dependent on improved weather & road conditions. pic.twitter.com/r0wiAqYxnz

— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) January 3, 2026

Additionally, Caltrans says the Palisades Fire recovery work zone on PCH from Sunset Boulevard to Carbon Beach Terrace will remain open, “with crews on standby to respond to any storm impacts.”

According to Caltrans, the New Year’s Eve storms “brought very minor impacts to PCH.”

Also Friday evening, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said evacuation warnings would go into effect on Saturday at 10 a.m. in places including burn scars in the Hurst fire and Mandeville areas.

To see which addresses are affected by evacuation warnings and orders there and elsewhere, check the map at protectgenasys.com/search.

Forecasters earlier Friday said Southern California may not necessarily see an “extraordinary” amount of rain over the weekend, but two separate storms are expected to pass through the area and could create a mess.

“I think it’s just going to be a stray shower Friday, but those showers probably become more widespread on Saturday, especially in the afternoon and evening, and then maybe another round of more enhanced showers that could be briefly heavy later (on) Sunday,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bob Larson said.

New Year’s Day downpour sets some records in Southern California, with more wet weather ahead

The holiday season has been marked by a series of storms, and meteorologists say more is on the way.

The Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties can expect intermittent rain as a series of storms comes in from the Pacific Ocean, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bob Larson said.

The biggest impacts, he said, may be felt further up the coast, with “steady or heavy rains over Central and particularly Northern California, and that’s going to translate to some very heavy snow over the Sierra (Nevada),” he said.

Larson said Southern California may not necessarily see an “extraordinary” amount of rain, but two separate storms will pass through the area.

“I think it’s just going to be a stray shower Friday, but those showers probably become more widespread on Saturday, especially in the afternoon and evening, and then maybe another round of more enhanced showers that could be briefly heavy later (on) Sunday,” Larson said.

See also: 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard to close because of possible mudslides

The Jan. 1 downpour set several daily records around California, some dating back to the 1800s, according to data from the National Weather Service.

San Diego recorded 2.07 inches of rain, breaking the previous January 1 record of 1.6 inches set in 1855 and tied in 1875.

The NWS reported a record rainfall of 1.32 inches at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, surpassing the 2006 record of 0.35 inches. A 1982 record of 0.6 inches of rainfall was also broken at the Long Beach Airport, with 1.11 inches.

Meanwhile, John Wayne Airport recorded 0.31 inches of rain, breaking its previous January 1 record of 0.13 inches in 2006. However, NWS meteorologist Chandler Price cautioned that the rain gauge at the airport may have underreported the total rainfall.

Also, Ontario International Airport received 0.86 inches of rain, surpassing the previous Jan. 1 record of 0.22 inches set in 2023.

Larson advised Southern California residents to expect travel delays as they enter the weekend, even though heavy rain is not predicted.

“It’s not as though we’re worried about widespread, substantial impacts … But I would at least be prepared for some localized flooding, airport drainage areas and whatnot,” he said.

Price described the early-week forecast for Orange County and the Inland Empire as a “rinse and repeat” of the weekend, with periods of light to moderate rainfall continuing Monday and possibly Tuesday.

In San Bernardino County, communities that were hit hard by flooding during earlier storms are expected to see lighter rainfall this weekend. Wrightwood could receive between about one-tenth and one-quarter inch of rain Saturday and Sunday, while Lytle Creek is forecast to see less than one-tenth of an inch on both days.

Los Angeles County has a similar outlook, according to the NWS. There is a chance of rain through Tuesday, though rainfall amounts are expected to be lighter after the weekend, meteorologist Lisa Phillips said. Total rainfall through Sunday is projected to reach about 1 to 2 inches across Los Angeles County, with up to 3 inches possible in the mountains, she said.

But the rainy forecast can mean potential mud and debris flows, especially in recent burn areas.

On Friday evening, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said evacuation warnings would go into effect on Saturday at 10 a.m. in places including burn scars in the Hurst fire and Mandeville areas.

To see which addresses are affected by evacuation warnings and orders there and elsewhere, check the map at protectgenasys.com/search.

Staff writer Madison Hart contributed to this report.

The last time it rained on Pasadena’s iconic parade was 2006, when the theme was “It’s Magical,” an echo of this year’s “The Magic in Teamwork.”

Also read: For the first time in 20 years, rain is in store for the Rose Parade. But for die-hard fans, no problem

In total, it has only ever rained on the Rose Parade 10 times: 1895, 1899, 1906, 1910, 1916, 1922, 1934, 1937, 1955 and 2006. Today marks the 11th.

@lilmissredeemedttv

First time here btw lol #roseparade #rosebowlparade #pasadena #newyears #lilmissredeemed

♬ original sound – lilmissredeemedttv

Many New Years Days come around with maybe some drama over a forecast of a little moisture, but in the end, the coast, as they say, is usually clear. And the parade — from its grand marshals to marching bands to hundreds of thousands of spectators — enjoy a day of weather that lives up to the Southern California climate hype, albeit with sometimes threatening skies.

Also read: Why does it rarely rain on Pasadena’s Rose Parade?

This morning, viewers at home can expect to see plenty of moisture, but they won’t see very many umbrellas. That’s because the city of Pasadena has an umbrella ban along the 5.5-mile parade route.

Technically, the umbrella ban is enforceable only in the grandstand seats, prime spots people paid for, according to Tournament of Roses officials. But one can expect to get spirited pushback from Rose Parade diehards if one is blocking their view along any part of the 5.5-mile route.

But even the forecast of showers for late Thursday and Friday remains a threat to soaked communities across the region.

In Wrightwood, debris flows on Christmas Eve buried homes, turned roads into rivers and split asphalt in half. The storm was unlike any in recent memory, said resident Erin DeGroot.

“My husband has lived up here with his family his whole life and it is the worst damage he’s seen,” she said.

Her husband and son, along with community members, spent much of Christmas Eve setting up sandbags and other barriers to protect family members’ homes near Edna Street and Mill Road. They were able to save her husband’s parents’ home, but mudslides cut through a neighbor’s house, DeGroot said, leaving more than two feet of mud inside.

“It was so fast and intense, there was nothing he could do,” she said.

The San Bernardino Mountains got 10-12 inches of rain in 48 hours, meteorologists reported on Thursday afternoon.

Evacuation orders went out in Wrightwood on Wednesday, only to quickly shift into shelter-in-place orders as roadways turned impassable, she said. Her daughter, who works at a Starbucks down the mountain, was unable to return, DeGroot said.

Crews from San Bernardino County and Caltrans spent much of the day removing debris and reopening roads. Most of the businesses in town remained closed, either for the holiday or because of damage to their property. It left residents with few opportunities to resupply and anxious about what might be coming next.

“Resources that we would normally have to stock up and be ready for the next brunt are not here,” DeGroot said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department announced that it had rescued over 100 people – with one helicopter hoisting 21 people from cars, and one engine pulling 20 people from vehicles.

The LAPD responded to more than 350 traffic accidents and the L.A. Fire Department deployed to three river rescues, officials said. There were no serious injuries or deaths related to the storm.

In Altadena, rainwater flooded the boutique Sidecca, destroying some of its merchandise, according to the store’s Instagram. The business, forced to close after the Eaton fire burned surrounding buildings, reopened in November. Owner Adriana Molina could not be reached for comment Thursday.

WRIGHTWOOD/DECEMBER STORMS INCIDENT
MORNING UPDATE

San Bernardino County Fire remains in unified command with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
With a break in the weather this morning, crews were strategically placed in neighborhoods that were severely impacted by the… pic.twitter.com/CQbXnviLYY

— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) December 25, 2025

Forecasts on Thursday afternoon indicated the worst of the storm had passed, though risks remained in water-damaged mountain communities, said Chandler Price, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“Today, it’s going to be pretty quiet,” Price said on Christmas afternoon. “Coastal Orange County and the West San Bernardino Mountains could see some light showers.”

Evacuation warnings were still in place into Thursday evening for Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre, as well as for Wrightwood and Lytle Creek.

“Since the soils are all wet, they’re going to hold less moisture than they usually can,” Price said, “which means it’s going to run off easier, which leads to our elevated flooding concerns.”

Showers and increased winds are expected across Orange County and the Inland Empire beginning early Friday morning. While most of the region will see calmer weather, the San Bernardino Mountains will continue to have a flood advisory with a total of an additional 2-2.5 inches in the area on Friday.

The potential for flooding also will remain high through Friday in parts of Los Angeles County, according to an NWS forecast discussion. The rainfall should be less than what was seen on Wednesday, but flooding, debris flow and storm damage risks remain high because of the already water-logged landscape, the meteorologists said.

Price urged those living in mountain areas to stay off the roads.

“Yesterday’s weather was significant,” he said. “While tomorrow will be more typical for this kind of weather event, infrastructure has been saturated, creating safety risks.”

Coastal Orange County saw light showers on Christmas Day, with heavier rains expected to hit northwest Orange County early Friday morning. Showers should be on and off for the rest of the day. The county could get an additional 1-1.5 inches of rain, according to the NWS. Heavy floods are unlikely in the area, Price said, but nuisance flooding could occur in urban settings.

The showers are expected to dissipate around Southern California by late Friday evening with dry, warmer weather returning this weekend and lasting through the middle of next week.

On Wednesday, the first wave of a dangerous atmospheric river storm dumped torrential rain, with widespread debris flows and freeway flooding. Cars got stuck on washed-out roads. Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect in vulnerable areas, including those near wildfire burn scars.

That day, the entire community of Wrightwood – 5,000 customers – lost power, Southern California Edison reported. On Thursday, 2,900 still had no electricity.

Three different SCE substations in the Wrightwood area were compromised, according to Scott Johnson, an SCE spokesperson. And many of those residents will have to remain without power for a while longer.

Johnson said the damage to infrastructure was significant, with equipment being completely washed away, and because of severe flooding, the crews cannot get to the substations to repair them.

“The challenging part for Edison, as is the case for any of the first responders and the individuals attempting to resolve this, is that the roads themselves are currently impassable,” Johnson said.

San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood.

“San Bernardino County Fire is devastated that many families are unable to be home together this Christmas due to the ongoing impacts of this incident,” the fire department said in a Dec. 24 post on X. “Our hearts are with everyone affected, and our crews remain committed to supporting the community during this difficult time.”

Fourteen visitors were stranded in Mt. Baldy overnight because of the road closure, said Graham Hendrickson, fire chief for the Mt. Baldy Fire Department. However, the Mt. Baldy firefighters opened their homes to those stranded, he said, allowing the visitors to spend the holidays with their families.

DeGroot said the storm has been a good reminder to “be prepared at all times whenever you live in this type of environment, especially with climate change and recent fires.”

She added, “We’re never out of the woods, literally and metaphorically.”

But, she said, “I see neighbors helping neighbors and I think that is one of the special things about Wrightwood, we all look out for each other in these types of situations.”

With multiple roadways flooded, residents are advised to stay off roads to ensure access for emergency crews if needed. For those whose homes have been damaged or do not have an area to shelter in place, the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds are open to the community, including to both large and small animals. The Red Cross is staffing the shelter.

Residents can check the evacuation status of their neighborhoods at protect.genasys.com.

While freeways and some other roads around Southern California were reopened late Wednesday, Mt. Baldy Road at Shin Road remained closed except to residents on Christmas morning because of slides, said California Highway Patrol Officer Sergio Garcia. Mud could be seen falling around trees and blocking the roadway.

There were two major debris flows on the road, Hendrickson said, and as of Thursday afternoon, one had been cleared and road crews were working on the other.

Additional closures in the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday morning included Lytle Creek Road at Glen Helen Parkway and the full closure of all lanes on Highway 2 for 12 miles west of Highway 39.

Rainfall totals almost doubled in some cases since the beginning of the storm.

Here are some 48-hour rainfall totals as of Thursday, 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: 1.06-1.33 inches

Huntington Beach: 1.39-1.56 inches

Laguna Beach: 0.96 inches

Santa Ana mountains: 1-73-3 inches

Inland Empire:

Riverside: 0.64-0.68 inches

Chino: 1.85-2.67 inches

Big Bear Lake: 3.12-4.67 inches

Cajon Pass: 8.51 inches

San Bernardino: 0.96-1.06 inches

San Bernardino mountains: 10.5-12.32 inches

City News Service contributed to this report.

Strong, gusty Christmas week storm drenches Southern California with more rain on the way

Wrightwood residents urged to shelter in place as storm runoff inundates town, closes Highway 2

Caltrans works to reopen flooded 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley

The storm landed first over Los Angeles County early Wednesday and pushed into Orange County and the Inland Empire as the day progressed, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service.

The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for the Riverwood community in the Sunland area.

In the San Fernando Valley, a stretch of the 5 Freeway in Sun Valley was closed by flooding near Lankershim Boulevard, Caltrans said Wednesday afternoon. By 7:45 p.m., southbound lanes there were open but the northbound freeway remained closed.

To the south, Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27), was closed from PCH to Grand View Drive because of debris flows.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department also issued an evacuation warning for Wrightwood due to potential mud and debris flows from the storm, and crews were working to rescue some residents.  Some residents were ordered to shelter in place due to the threat. Debris and mud were seen rushing down the road leading into Wrightwood in a social media video posted by county fire officials.

A shelter for affected residents opened at the Victorville Fairgrounds.

Later in the day, the department issued a shelter in place order for Lytle Creek, about 32 miles southeast of Wrightwood.

Another evacuation order was issued for the communities north of Highway 2, to Palmdale Road west of Sheep Creek Road to the Los Angeles County line.

LA County was under a flood watch until Friday at 4 p.m.

Powerful wind gusts reached 40 to 70 mph in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, according to the NWS. One wind gust in the Western San Gabriel mountains reached 98 miles per hour. LA’s coastal and valley areas experienced 20 to 40 mph wind gusts.

“We had those real strong and powerful winds and so some areas had issues with tree limbs down, trees down, power outages, that sort of thing across the area. So not only the rain, but the wind kind of exacerbated the whole situation,” said NWS meteorologist Joe Sirard.

Forecasters issued a tornado warning for the Alhambra area and was quickly cancelled but officials warned that powerful winds are still likely. A “severe thunderstorm warning” remained in effect.

Rainfall totals were matching weather forecasters’ expectations so far. Here’s how much rain the south land had received a day into the storm, according to the NWS:

LA County

• San Gabriel mountains: 5-7 inches
• The San Gabriel Valley: 1.5-2 inches
• San Fernando Valley: 3-4 inches
• Santa Monica mountains: 2-4 inches
• La Cañada foothills: 2-3 inches

Orange County:

• Dana Point: .10 of an inch
• Huntington Beach: .5 of an inch
• Laguna Beach: .14 of an inch
• Santa Ana mountains: .25 of an inch

Inland Empire:

• Riverside: .10-.20 of an inch
• Chino: .16 of an inch
• Big Bear Lake: .31 of an inch
• Cajon Pass: .69 of an inch
• San Bernardino: .25-.5 an inch
• San Bernardino mountains: .25-.5 an inch

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties in anticipation of the storm’s potential impacts. This declaration allows state agencies to pre-deploy emergency response resources like additional fire personnel and fire engines.

The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued a man who had gotten trapped in a drainage tunnel near the Corbin Street bridge in Winnetka. The tunnel leads to the Los Angeles River, but the man was trapped by a screen. Firefighters lowered a ladder into an opening, and the man climbed out. He was not injured, the Fire Department said.

In Orange County, a downed tree in Laguna Beach led to the closure of Coast Highway between Legion Street and Cleo Street for at least an hour, according to a Laguna Beach Police Department social media post. Caltrans later said PCH was closed due to flooding in Huntington Beach between Warner Avenue and Seapoint Street.

San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Chris Prater said that in addition to those in Wrightwood, the department has made swift water rescues in Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley and Adelanto. He did not know the circumstances of each.

At one point on Wednesday, Highway 138 was closed between the 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass and Beekley Road to the west, Caltrans said. Northbound traffic on the 15 was being required to exit at the 138 and re-enter the freeway because of mud on the 15 at the 138 overpass.

Heavy rain was expected to affect the Yucaipa-Oak Glen area, said Chloe Castillo, a spokeswoman for the Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit. The creek that runs past the Oak Glen Steakhouse tends to overflow during heavy rain.

Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road was closed due to landslides and mudslides, the California Highway Patrol said.

Shane Reichardt, a spokesman for the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, said officials were watching the Airport Fire burn scar off Ortega Highway.

He said the expected rainfall rate of seven-tenths of an inch per hour had not reached the threshold of eight-tenths that would trigger warnings to be sent out. That area has held up well during heavy rain, Reichardt said. Officials did send out alerts to wireless phones in the areas where people live in rivers, urging them to move to higher ground.

Conditions could worsen as multiple atmospheric rivers move across California on one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Some residents had no choice but to stay put. Video posted on X by the San Bernardino County Fire Department showed runoff roaring past homes.

“Due to mud and debris flow in the area, the community of Wrightwood is advised to shelter in place,” said a Sheriff’s Department post on X. “Avoid unnecessary travel. Do not attempt to walk or drive through flooded areas. For emergencies, dial 911. Stay safe and remain alert for updates.”

For those who evacuated, a shelter for people and animals opened at the Victorville Fairgrounds, 14800 7th St, Victorville, CA 92395.

Firefighters on Wednesday rescued some of those residents, as well as motorists who were stopped in their tracks by mudflows and fast-moving water that made Highway 2 impassable.

It was unclear how many people were affected or whether they were in any immediate danger. There were no immediate reports of injuries requiring hospitalization, said Chris Prater, a Fire Department spokesman.

Highway 2 was closed from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb’s Ranch to Highway 138 in San Bernardino County, the Caltrans website said.

The incident commander requested four-wheel-drive fire engines, swift-water rescue crews, bulldozers, hand crews and urban search-and-rescue teams, Prater said.

The Sheriff’s Department issued an evacuation warning for the area and posted a map of evacuation advisories on its website.

WRIGHTWOOD INCIDENT UPDATE:

San Bernardino County Fire remains in command of the Wrightwood Incident as ongoing rain continues to worsen mud and debris flows and flooding. The primary focus remains life safety. Crews are conducting door-to-door checks in impacted areas and… pic.twitter.com/mt44YKLZFi

— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) December 24, 2025

Prater encouraged travelers and residents not to drive through moving water and to sign up for alerts at the website prepare.sbcounty.gov.

Moderate to heavy rain will increase the risk of flash flooding and localized flooding, the National Weather Service said. Heavy rain is expected to decrease in intensity on Wednesday night, leaving scattered showers on Christmas Day before a new band of showers arrives, producing rain Thursday night into Friday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties because of the storm, which is expected to last several days. The action allows state resources to be mobilized and authorizes Caltrans to seek federal assistance for repairs to damaged roads and highways.

Disneyland and DCA will close an hour early on Wednesday, Dec. 24 as weather forecasts predict up to 4 inches of rain in Orange County by the end of the day.

ALSO SEE: New Downtown Disney store opens just in time for last minute Christmas shopping

Disneyland will close at 11 p.m. and DCA will close at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the Disneyland website.

Disneyland had previously posted park hours for Wednesday from 8 a.m. to midnight at Disneyland and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Disney California Adventure.

The storm is expected to arrive late Tuesday, Dec. 23 with heavy rainfall moving through Southern California in waves on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is forecast to begin tapering off on Saturday, Dec. 27.

All Magic Key annual passholders are blocked out of Disneyland and DCA from Dec. 22  through Dec. 31.

Daily tickets to Disneyland and DCA are still available for the peak price of $224 through Jan. 3.

“There is a tornado risk — it’s not what we’re primarily concerned about,” National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Phillips said.

Forecasters are expecting gusty, strong winds along with a chance of thunderstorms, with increased chances beginning Wednesday and continuing into Christmas Day on Thursday, Phillips said. The greater concern remains the several inches of rain expected to fall across Southern California throughout the week.

If a tornado does form, it would likely be small and short-lived, Phillips said.

“Generally, when we get them here, they’re super short-lived,” she said. “They can have impacts to weaker structures like trailers or lightweight items, but could take down some trees.”

Phillips said the low tornado risk is tied to how winds change with height during the storm system.

“When winds are turning with height, any thunderstorm that develops within that wind can start spinning and produce it,” she said.

The tornado probability is about 2%, Phillips said.

“We’re definitely not expecting tornadoes everywhere,” she said. “There is the potential for one or two to form.”