A rare Jan. 1 rainstorm drenched Southern California, triggering slides and major road closures across the Los Angeles area, as well as swift water rescues on San Diego roadways. In San Diego, emergency crews worked to rescue motorists who found themselves trapped on flooded roadways Thursday. Please avoid the area & never walk or drive through floodwaters.”AdvertisementA San Diego Police Department spokesman said a man and his young daughter were caught in their blue Jeep by deep, fast-moving water and rescued without incident by San Diego Fire-Rescue emergency crews. Typically, New Year’s Day is rain-free in the Los Angeles area. That was also the year Los Angeles received more than one inch of rain on the first day of the year.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 02, 2026 11:29 UTC