WRIGHTWOOD, CA — Residents of Southern California’s mountain communities returned to a landscape of sludge on Friday as a massive atmospheric river finally began to retreat. The holiday storm, which began Christmas Eve, dumped over a foot of rain in some areas, triggering flash floods and devastating mudslides.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The resort town of Wrightwood bore the brunt of the disaster. San Bernardino County officials report that dozens of homes were inundated with rivers of mud. For some residents, like Misty Cheng, the damage was catastrophic. Cheng returned to her vacation home to find it buried under five feet of mud that had breached the garage and filled the living room. “The mud had hardened into a mound solid enough for me to stand on,” Cheng said, noting she is now turning to crowdfunding to cover repairs not protected by insurance.
While emergency teams rescued dozens of trapped motorists and residents over the holiday, authorities report no fatalities. Emergency crews are now using heavy machinery to clear roads, though evacuation warnings remain in place for areas near wildfire burn scars.
Holiday Storm Aftermath in Southern California
- The Storm: A powerful atmospheric river brought 6–12+ inches of rain and heavy mountain snow to the region between Christmas Eve and Friday.
- The Damage: High winds toppled trees and power lines, while flash floods sent walls of mud into homes, particularly in the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Wrightwood Crisis: The town of 5,000 saw dozens of homes “swallowed” by mud. Inspectors are currently assessing property losses; many roads remain closed to the public.
- Emergency Response: No deaths were reported despite 24+ rescues of people trapped in cars and homes.
- Current Status: Rain is tapering off and a dry weekend is expected. However, flood watches remain active due to saturated soil and the risk of further debris flows.
Hardened Mud and Heartbreak: A California Town’s Holiday Nightmare
What was supposed to be a snowy holiday in Wrightwood turned into a desperate salvage mission this week. As a relentless atmospheric river slammed into Southern California, the festive atmosphere was replaced by the sound of rushing debris and crashing walls.
Misty Cheng’s story is becoming a common one in the San Gabriel Mountains. After receiving a neighbor’s video showing her home being buried, she arrived to find her property cased in five feet of solid mud. While she was able to save a truckload of personal items from the second floor, the rest of her home is a total loss.
Despite the destruction, the community is counting its blessings. Thanks to early evacuation warnings and the efforts of the San Bernardino County Fire Department, dozens were rescued from the rising sludge without a single reported death. As the sun begins to peek through the clouds this weekend, the sound of rain is being replaced by the hum of front-loaders as a community begins the long process of digging out.
