Watch: Powerful holiday storm batters southern California; visuals of flash floods, mudslides emerge

California is experiencing a powerful winter storm with heavy gusts of wind, flooding, debris flows, and snowstorms taking over the state. The weather forecast warned that this time would be the wettest Christmas Southern California has witnessed so far in years, with flash flood and mudslide warnings.
As per the Los Angeles county officials, 380 evacuation orders were issued for the residences in the regions affected by the January wildfire. Official warnings also state that the car drivers should "turn around and not drown" when they witness the debris flows.



"Just a few inches can lift a vehicle off the roadway and put lives at risk," wrote the California San Bernardino public information office while warning the drivers.

Mud and debris rushed down a road as firefighters in San Bernardino county rescued people trapped in their cars.

"I came across (a road) where there was a car sucked away by the water and realised we were trapped here," said Dillan Brown who rented a cabin in Wrightwood with his wife and 14-month-old daughter. He shared that they were stranded in the woods with almost no food and only enough diapers.



"Severe, widespread flash flooding is expected," the National Weather Service said, adding that "lives and property are in great danger." Videos show damage caused due to gusty winds as trees can be seen fallen on the residential properties.



Wet roads and floods have also caused havoc for the people, as several roadways were also closed due to flooding, making the travellers more prone to crashes.

Sacramento sheriff deputy James Caravallo reportedly passed away in a weather-related crash, as investigated by the California Highway Patrol. "Our hearts are with Deputy Caravallo's family, and we ask the public to keep Deputy Caravallo's loved ones and our Sheriff's Office family in their thoughts and prayers," the agency said in a post on social media.



The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the greater Tahoe region, which shall stay in effect till Friday morning. Governor Gavin Newsom has also declared a state of emergency in six counties to speed up state support for storm response efforts.

Emergency resources and first responders have been deployed across several coastal and Southern California counties, with the California National Guard placed on standby.