Southern California Storm Damage Update｜Cleanup Underway After Rare Boyle Heights Tornado, Flooding, Mudslides and Record Rainfall

Cleanup operations are underway across Southern California following days of intense rain that caused widespread storm damage, traffic accidents, flooding, mudslides, power outages, and a rare EF-0 tornado in Boyle Heights during the Christmas holiday.

Although the storm system has moved out of the region, the impacts are still being felt as crews assess damage and residents begin recovery efforts across Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

Rare EF-0 Tornado Confirmed in Boyle Heights

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down in the Boyle Heights neighborhood on Christmas Day. The tornado traveled approximately a quarter-mile, with a width of about 30 yards and estimated wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph.

Violent winds were captured along Whittier Boulevard near Lorena Street, where debris was seen flying through the air. Several buildings sustained damage, including blown-out windows, torn signage, and sections of rooftops ripped away. Residents reported watching parts of nearby homes lose their roofs during the storm.

Flooding, Mudslides and Infrastructure Damage Across SoCal

Beyond Boyle Heights, the storm caused significant flooding and mudslides throughout the region:

• Wrightwood experienced heavy rainfall that triggered mudslides, burying roads and vehicles under several feet of mud and debris
• Oriole Road was overwhelmed as water, charred wood, and sludge flowed into nearby homes
• Thousands of Southern California Edison customers lost power due to storm impacts
• Hundreds of traffic accidents were reported due to flooded streets and hazardous conditions

In some areas, entire streets were coated in rain-soaked sludge, making access and cleanup difficult.

Evacuation Orders Lifted, Facilities Reopen

All Los Angeles evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by Friday evening, including flood watches and a separate evacuation order in the Sunland-Tujunga area related to water releases from the Tujunga Dam.

Several community facilities that had been closed during the storm are scheduled to reopen, including:

• Palisades Recreation Center
• Rustic Canyon Recreation Center
• Crestwood Hills Recreation Center

Record-Breaking Rainfall Across Los Angeles County

The storm also set new rainfall records:

• Downtown Los Angeles recorded 1.23 inches of rain on December 26, breaking a record set in 1977
• Long Beach Airport recorded 1.39 inches, surpassing the previous December record set in 2019

Meteorologists noted that the combination of saturated ground, intense rainfall, and localized wind events contributed to the severity of the damage.

Recovery Efforts Continue Across Southern California

As cleanup continues, officials urge residents to remain cautious around debris, unstable structures, and mud-covered roads. Emergency crews and public works teams are continuing damage assessments while communities begin the recovery process after one of the most impactful December storms in recent years.

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