State could see heavy rainfall and snow at Christmastime

Weather center warns of flood and landslide risks and some tough travel conditions.

- BY RONG-GONG LIN II

BETHANY NEUFELD, 7, of Glendale and father Josh enjoy a family holiday tradition at Pershing Square in downtown L.A. on Saturday.

Big rain and snow could hit California around Christmas, ending a long dry spell for the state.

There's a high risk for heavy rainfall along the entire California coast between Dec. 23 and Christmas Day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center said. There's also a high risk of heavy snow along the Sierra Nevada.

The rains would be fueled by atmospheric river storms, which pounded the Pacific Northwest this month, causing flooding and evacuations.

The Climate Prediction Center warned of possible flooding, landslides and difficult travel conditions over mountain passes. Those at risk include recently burned areas, which could see rapid flows of mud and debris. High winds and heavy rainfall or snowfall could result in power outages, officials said.

"Pretty much all the ensemble projections bring widespread rain sometime in the Dec. 23-26 window, which will certainly bring impacts to the busy Christmas holiday," said the National Weather Service in Oxnard, which issues forecasts for Los Angeles County.

The most likely outcome for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties is "high amounts of rain" — 2 to 4 inches on the coast and in the valleys, and 4 to 8 inches in the mountains and foothills. There’s a 40% chance of that much rain falling in those four days.

JERRY AND CAROL KING visit L.A. Trade-Technical College last week.