Los Angeles county workers load sandbags in preparation for a strong atmospheric river storm on 23 December in Altadena, California. ario Tama/Getty ImagesLos Angeles county workers load sandbags in preparation for a strong atmospheric river storm on 23 December in Altadena, California. ario Tama/Getty ImagesSouthern California braces as powerful winter storms threaten up to 8in of rainGovernor declared emergency in several counties, with near white-out snow conditions in parts of the Sierra NevadaA powerful winter storm swept across California on Wednesday, with heavy rain and gusty winds leading to evacuation warnings for mudslides in parts of the southern part of the state, bringing near white-out snow conditions in the mountains and hazardous travel for millions of holiday drivers. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles.“With atmospheric rivers, intense rainfall, and strong winds ahead, I’m declaring a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties to activate emergency authorities and preposition resources to keep our communities safe,” Newsom said in a post on X. Forecasters said southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned about flash flooding.
