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Climate & Environment

Major rainfall now expected for this week.  Brace for road and airport delays

The view through a car window of a rainy LA; there are water drops on the glass, four windblown palm trees are silhouetted against a grey sky, and the Chase sign on a bank building glows white and blue in the eerie light.
Heavy rain in Marina Del Rey a few years back.
(
Suzanne Levy
/
LAist
)

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Topline:

The National Weather Service is now forecasting major rainfall for the week of Christmas in L.A. and Ventura counties.

Storm duration: The heaviest rain is expected to arrive late Tuesday night into Wednesday day. Less intense rain is expected to stick around through Christmas until Saturday, according to the weather service. Peak rainfall rate during the most intense period could reach 1.25 inches an hour.

A map with different areas denoted in orange and red, indicating rain fall levels.
Rainfall total from the storm arriving Christmas week, according to the National Weather Service on Saturday.
(
Courtesy National Weather Service
)

How much rain? In all, about  4 to 8 inches of rain is expected for the coast and valleys in L.A. and Ventura counties from the storm, and between 6 to 12 inches for the foothills and mountains.

Impact: The National Weather Service said on Sunday the region could see significant and damaging mudslides and rock slides, as well as flooded freeways and closures. Road and airport delays are likely in store.

Winds: Damaging winds are also in the forecast, particularly between Tuesday night and Wednesday  in the mountains and foothills, potentially resulting in  downed trees and power outages.

Updated December 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM PST

The story was updated with new information from the National Weather Service on Sunday.

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