Newsom mobilizes emergency crews as storm bears down on California

"Southern California is heading into the New Year with another round of rain, renewed flood risks and what forecasters say is a near-guarantee of a wet Rose Parade. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state had again pre-positioned fire, rescue and emergency crews in areas most at risk for flooding, mud and debris flows, with special attention to recent burn scar areas."

""California is once again bracing for intense winter weather, and we're taking every precaution to keep people safe," Newsom said in a statement. The storm system comes on the heels of a Christmas holiday deluge that caused fatalities, spurred swift-water rescues and toppled trees. Some Southern California mountain communities were buried in mud. The incoming system will not be as intense, but drenched soil is more vulnerable to rock- and mudslides."

"The storm system was approaching from the south as strong Santa Ana winds began to ease Tuesday. Rain will pick up Wednesday morning, with the heaviest downpours forecast from Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Showers could linger through Friday. Rainfall totals are expected to range from about three-quarters of an inch to 2.5 inches in coastal and valley areas, with 2 to 5.5 inches possible in foothill and mountain communities."

Southern California will receive another storm bringing renewed flood risks, increased mudslide potential and a likely wet Rose Parade. The state pre-positioned fire, rescue and emergency crews in areas most vulnerable to flooding, mud and debris flows, with special attention to recent burn scars. An earlier Christmas deluge caused fatalities, swift-water rescues, toppled trees and buried mountain communities in mud, leaving soils saturated and more unstable. Rain will intensify Wednesday through Thursday with showers possibly lingering through Friday, bringing coastal and valley totals of 0.75–2.5 inches and foothill/mountain totals of 2–5.5 inches, plus gusty winds and flood watches.

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