Heavy rain storms across large parts of California triggered floods and mudslides and left three dead as of Christmas night, local officials said.
The storms - which were expected to continue through Friday - brought 11 inches (27 cms) of rainfall to some parts of Los Angeles County, prompted evacuations and shut down major roads.
Emergency responders have had to perform several rescues, including people stuck in vehicles as flood waters rise. California's Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in Los Angeles and other southern Californian counties.
About 100,000 people in the state were without power as of Thursday evening.
The US Weather Prediction Center stated that numerous flash flooding events are possible and warned of potential flooding in many streams that could affect larger rivers.
The storms resulted in fatalities, including a 64-year-old man from San Diego killed by a fallen tree and a 74-year-old man who drowned while being rescued from his vehicle in Redding.
Further east, a woman was swept into the ocean by large waves at MacKerricher State Park, marking another tragic death linked to these storms.
Evacuation warnings were issued for parts of San Bernardino County, while the San Francisco Bay Area received flash flood warnings. Reports indicated wind speeds exceeding 100 mph in parts of the Bay Area.
The continual rains have particularly impacted areas previously hit hard by wildfires, resulting in landslides and severe drainage issues.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has warned residents to be cautious, urging them to stay safe during this busy holiday travel period. The storms stem from multiple atmospheric rivers delivering significant moisture to the region.
