'Twas the big storm before Christmas

L.A. wasn't dreaming of a rainy holiday, but that's what it will get through the weekend.

- BY RUBEN VIVES, KAREN GARCIA, SANDRA McDONALD AND RONG-GONG LIN II

GARY CORONADO For The Times CLAUDIA RAMIREZ, left, and her sister, Carla Ramirez, brave the rain at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce.

The most powerful Christmas storm in years slammed into Southern California on Wednesday, closing roads, flooding streets and drenching last-minute holiday shoppers.

The region's wet Christmas is expected to continue through the weekend, though forecasters said Wednesday was expected to be the more intense day of rain. Southern California's coastal areas and valleys are forecast to get 4 to 6 inches of rain this week, while some foothills and mountains could receive 10 inches.

Bursts of intense rain flooded freeways, caused some scattered mudslides and prompted a few evacuations across the region Wednesday.

Some of the biggest worries came in areas devastated by the Los Angeles County firestorms in January.

Walking past their neighbors' homes on Woodland Drive in Sierra Madre, Missy and Jay Chapman said they'd worked for hours Tuesday to prepare their home for flooding.

Decked out in rain gear with umbrellas and their soggy sheepadoodle, Iggy, on Wednesday morning, the Chapmans, both 57, said they were not concerned for their 1920s-built home, where they've lived since 2003.

"We're always a little worried, but what are you gonna do?" Missy Chapman said, taking cover in her neighbor's carport.

Her husband diligently cleans every gutter and any sort of debris that could allow rain to pool near their home, she said.