A powerful bomb cyclone fueled by an atmospheric river is set to batter California on Christmas Eve, bringing torrential rain, flooding, landslides, and near hurricane-force winds. Coastal cities from San Francisco to Los Angeles could see 2–4 inches of rain, while some inland and mountain areas may receive up to 8–16 inches, with snowfall in the Sierra Nevada potentially reaching 10 feet.
The National Weather Service has issued severe storm and winter weather warnings across the state, and AccuWeather warns of dangerous travel conditions. More than 1,300 flights are expected to be canceled, with widespread delays, power outages, and flash flooding threatening holiday plans across the West Coast.
