January 1, Big California Storms Threaten Christmas Travel Plans

Wyatt’s Take

• California faces waves of severe storms
• Flash flooding and travel chaos expected
• Rare snow boosts hopes for mountain towns

California is about to get hammered by three nasty waves of storms, promising heavy rain, big winds, and dangerous flooding. The coming weather threatens to swamp much of Northern California first, before spreading down the coast and making Christmas travel a real headache.

Major cities and highways are on alert, with places like San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles looking at wet roads and airport delays. Interstate highways will be slick and risky, especially I-5 and the big east-west routes.

ANOTHER ROUND ☔️: Yet another atmospheric river is set to target the Northwest, eyeing Central and Northern California through early next week, increasing the concern for flash flooding and mountain snow during the busy holiday travel week. pic.twitter.com/dSb2dy6Vgg

— FOX Weather (@foxweather) December 20, 2025

This “Pineapple Express” event means some places could see a month’s worth of rain in just a few days. Folks north of Napa and up to Chico are especially at risk, with flood watches in place and as much as 10 inches possible by Tuesday for some spots.

Recent wildfire areas will be watching for mudslides while rivers may rise fast, putting the region on edge. The Sierra Nevada, hurting for snow all year, will finally get buried, bringing hope to struggling ski resorts but piling up the travel mess for holiday drivers.

Starting Tuesday, even more rain and wind are lining up. Coastal winds could hit 80 mph, and there’s talk of these storms turning into a “bomb cyclone.” The National Weather Service is warning everyone to stay away from the coast and watch out for more flooding as each system rolls through.

Southern California gets in on the action too, and the Los Angeles area could see nearly four inches of rain over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That would smash rainfall records for this time of year, piling on even more trouble for folks trying to visit family.

The higher elevations will see snow levels drop, finally refilling reservoirs and adding to a snowpack that’s been weak so far. It’s a blessing for farmers and mountain towns, but it means that highways over the passes will be treacherous as families try to get home for Christmas.

Stay sharp and keep your boots dry—Christmas in California is shaping up to be wild this year.

Wyatt Matters

These storms remind us of the power of nature and the need to support neighbors when the going gets tough. For families from the heartland to the West, it’s all about sticking together and facing hardship head-on.

Full details on the coming California storms