National Weather Service Issues Tornado Warning for Major Metro Area
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Los Angeles County on Wednesday amid a heavy downpour expected this week.
According to multiple reports, a small but populous portion of L.A. County is under a rare tornado watch.
The National Weather Service issued the tornado warning until 1:45 p.m. ET in east-central Los Angeles County, including the cities of Alhambra, Pasadena, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, El Monte, and Temple City.
#WEATHERALERT: Tornado warning issued for small portion of east-central L.A. County https://t.co/cVqjiIaoWS pic.twitter.com/nUt8ANqFrO
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 24, 2025
Tornado Warning Canceled But ...
The National Weather Service later canceled the tornado warning, but warned that "damaging winds remain likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area."
Los Angeles and most of California are expected to suffer severe damage and power outages amid a downpour that will make L.A. one of the wettest parts of the world.
WRIGHTWOOD: Battalion Chief 141 has assumed #WRIGHTWOODIC for heavy debris flows & flooding. Hwy 2 is impassible. Requesting 3 additional engines, hand crews, dozer & swift water rescue unit. #SBCoFD Crews are assisting with evacuating homes that are being immediately impacted.… pic.twitter.com/hUlGY4mKQP
— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) December 24, 2025
Already, parts of Los Angeles are without power, affecting thousands of customers, mostly impacting the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles.
The powerful storm has triggered evacuations across numerous communities, especially those ravaged earlier this year by deadly wildfires. Mudslides are expected amid several inches of rain set to pound the area, which will also trigger flash flooding.
12-24-25 – Flooding on the westbound lanes of the 101 Freeway in Van Nuys caused some delays Wednesday morning as a flash flood warning remained in effect for parts of L.A. and Ventura counties. https://t.co/v5c7i5CyjT pic.twitter.com/kqwJVmqJvv
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 24, 2025
According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding will occur in Long Beach, downtown Los Angeles, Inglewood, Alhambra, Torrance, Culver City, Hollywood, Griffith Park, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Whittier, Redondo Beach, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Venice, Rancho Palos Verdes, Santa Monica, and West Covina.
The heavy rain is expected until at least Friday and likely into Saturday.
It rarely ever rains in Los Angeles on Christmas Day. The legendary meteorologist Dallas Raines of ABC 7 Los Angeles found that it has astonishingly only rained 46 times on Christmas Day since 1892.
Related: National Weather Service Issues Winter Storm Warning for 96 Inches of Snow and 60 MPH Winds
Norther California Bracing For Severe Weather
The Sierra Nevadas will deal with heavy snow and high-speed winds, affecting the cities of Quincy, Blue Canyon, and Chester.
Massive amounts of snow (4 to 8 feet) are expected to build up until Dec. 26 in regions that are 5,500 feet above sea level. Damaging winds of up to 60 miles per hour will also devastate the area.