4 weather-related deaths in California, as intense storms turn some roads into rivers of mud

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. -- Heavy rains and beardown winds from almighty wintertime storms this week brought the wettest Christmas play to Southern California successful years, triggering wide mudslides and debris flows and leaving homes halfway filled with mud.

Rain was expected to easiness astir Los Angeles Friday afternoon, but determination was inactive a hazard of much flash flooding and mudslides, the National Weather Service warned.

"It's not going to instrumentality a full batch to make immoderate hazards connected the highways," said Mike Wofford, a National Weather Service meteorologist successful Los Angeles. "Still not rather retired of the woods, but for the astir part, the worst is over."

Firefighters rescued implicit 100 radical Thursday successful Los Angeles County, with 1 chopper pulling 21 radical from stranded cars, officials said. LA constabulary besides responded to much than 350 postulation collisions, the mayor's bureau said.

Evacuation orders for pain scar areas astir the region were extended done Friday morning.

In Wrightwood, a 5,000-resident upland municipality astir 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, the roads turned into rivers, residents said. On Friday, cars were inactive buried up to their windows successful rocks, debris and heavy mud.

Fire officials rescued respective radical from trapped cars earlier this week erstwhile mud and debris cascaded down a roadworthy into town. There was 1 wounded reported.

The strategy brought the wettest Christmas play to downtown Los Angeles successful 54 years, the National Weather Service said. The country recorded 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rainfall successful 3 days, portion the upland areas saw up to 12 inches (30.5 centimeters), Wofford said.

Forecasters expected a adust play earlier much rains were forecast to travel adjacent week astir New Year's Eve.

Waves adjacent the San Francisco Bay Area could scope up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) Friday, and galore parts of bluish California remained nether a flood ticker done Friday.

More upwind and arsenic overmuch arsenic 2 inches (5 centimeters) of snowfall an hr was expected successful the Sierra Nevada, making upland walk question treacherous. Avalanche hazard astir Lake Tahoe connected Friday was downgraded, per Sierra Avalanche Center.

A falling histrion killed a San Diego antheral Wednesday, quality outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff's lawman died successful what appeared to beryllium a weather-related crash.

A 70-year-old pistillate was killed successful Mendocino, California Monday aft being swept distant by a ample question and a 74-year-old antheral was killed successful Redding, California aft being swept distant by flood waters Sunday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies successful six counties to let authorities assistance.

The authorities deployed resources and archetypal responders to respective coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was connected standby.

Associated Press writers Trn Nguyn successful Sacramento, California, and Sophie Austin successful Oakland, California, contributed.