A major storm system that brought relentless winds, rain and snow to California this week was expected to weaken on Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.
On Friday, officials warned that waves in the San Francisco Bay Area could reach 25 feet, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe area. Residents were told to be prepared to leave the mountain town of Wrightwood, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, due to landslides.
Atmospheric rivers carried massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Storms were responsible for the deaths of at least two people earlier this week. About 70,000 homes and businesses were left without power overnight. According to Find Energy.
The system made downtown Los Angeles the wettest Christmas season in 54 years, according to the National Weather Service.
CBS Los Angeles Celebrates The National Weather Service said: “The threat of flooding will worsen… due to oversaturation throughout the area. “Any rain that falls will immediately turn into runoff.”
On Thursday, roads in the town of Wrightwood, population 5,000, were covered with rocks, debris and thick mud. When the power was out, the gas station and cafe, powered by generators, served as transportation hubs for residents and visitors.
William Liang/AP
More than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area due to the approaching rain, San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Sean Millerick said.
“We are ready,” he said. “Everything is ready for now.”
William Liang/AP 
A falling tree killed a San Diego man Wednesday, fire officials say. CBS affiliate KFMB-TV confirmed. Further north, a Sacramento sheriff's deputy was killed in a crash believed to be weather-related.
Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood warnings were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
Southern California typically gets a half-inch to 1 inch of rain this time of year, but many areas are getting 4 to 8 inches this week, with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.
High winds and heavy snow were expected in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts created “near whiteout conditions” and made travel through mountain passes dangerous.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow government aid.
The state sent resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.
