A series of atmospheric rivers brought moderate to heavy precipitation to interior northern California in the third week of December through the Christmas holiday. A Convergence Zone set up over Redding/Shasta County around 1 PM on Sunday, December 21.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS STO wrote it up.
A series of atmospheric rivers brought moderate to heavy precipitation to interior northern California in the third week of December through the Christmas holiday. A Convergence Zone set up over Redding/Shasta County around 1 PM on Sunday, December 21. Heavy rain fell until around 7 PM, where there was a lull before another line redeveloped and brought additional moderate to heavy rain into the late evening. Over 24 hours, the area received 2 to 7 inches of rain. There were numerous reports of flash flooding, water damage, vehicles getting stuck in the rising waters, and one fatality. There was another Swiftwater rescue that occurred at 1:15 PM at Cisco Grove near Donner Summit as water levels rose from heavy rainfall on the South Yuba River. 4-6 inches of rain were observed over the previous 24 hours in this area. Numerous down trees and power lines were also reported from gusty southerly winds of 35 to 55 mph across the northern/central Sacramento valley and Sierra foothills. Several mud and rock slides were also reported in the foothills. Snow levels were high with this round, through December 23rd.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 20, 1:53 PM PST, 15 hours 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 153 PM PST Sat Dec 20 2025 For additional details on weather and expected impacts over the next 7 days, please visit weather.gov/sto/briefing. .KEY MESSAGES... - Light rain and high elevation snow showers today, with widespread precipitation this evening and overnight. - Series of atmospheric rivers will bring widespread moderate to heavy precipitation Sunday through the holiday week. - High snow levels through the early week, gradually falling through mid week, with potential major holiday travel impacts over the passes. - Period of gusty southerly winds through mid week, with the strongest Sunday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... ...Today and Tonight... Current satellite and radar shows isolated to scattered rain showers moving through the Coastal range and Bay Area into the Valley. Rain will continue to spread eastward through today, with widespread chances this evening and overnight. Snow levels are over 8000 feet today and into Sunday. Higher elevation snow showers are likely. Winds will begin to increase out of the south through the overnight hours, with gusts up to 30mph at times within the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley. Minor impacts from snow and rain through the remainder of today and into tonight. ...Sunday through Friday... Satellite shows the swath of precipitable water moving through the eastern Pacific and entering CA. This strong push of moisture is associated with a deepening trough across the eastern Pacific. This will bring a moderately strong atmospheric river, with several rounds of precipitation and gusty southerly winds to the forecast region Sunday through the holiday week. Heavier rainfall is expected to develop and push through northern CA Sunday, with snow levels remaining above 8000 feet, with only light snow expected at the higher peaks. Isolated thunderstorms (15-25 percent) Sunday afternoon and evening across portions of the Sierra and northern Sacramento Valley. Gusty southerly winds are expected within the Sacramento Valley and portions of northern San Joaquin Valley Sunday. Probabilities of seeing over 40 mph wind gusts are 70-80 percent along the foothills of the Sierra (north of I-80) and in the northern Sacramento Valley. Thus a Wind Advisory is in effect 4am through 10pm Sunday. Rain will continue to be moderate to heavy at times through the week, with the heaviest totals in the higher terrain of Butte county where 10 inches is around 90 percent of occurrence. Elsewhere, 3 to 8 inches of rainfall looks likely, with the lower amounts within the Valley. An Areal Flood Watch is in effect at 4pm Today and continues through 4pm next Saturday for urban, small streams and creek flooding. Snow levels begin to drop early to mid week, with levels around 5500 feet Tuesday evening through Friday. Probabilities of seeing over 30 inches of snow is 70 to 80 percent above 5500 feet. Once it gets closer we will get more exact amounts in the forecast as snow level fluctuations often occur with these systems but several feet of snow seems likely. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect Tuesday evening through Friday morning for areas above 5500 feet. Lastly, winds will be breezy out of the south mid week, with probabilities of over 45mph being 40-60 percent in the foothills and over 60 percent in the mountains. Holiday travel impacts are likely as this atmospheric river sets up and affects the forecast area. Lingering impacts are likely after Christmas and into the early portions of next weekend. Monitor the latest forecasts, have backup plans for travel, and watch for flooded roadways this Holiday week. && .AVIATION... Ceilings remain IFR to MVFR through the TAF period, with rain chances increasing throughout the day. Visibilities remain MVFR through the period, with occasional VFR at times outside of rain. Heaviest rain is expected to move in around 23-02z and continue through the overnight period. Around 13-15z rain will be moderate at times through the end of the TAF period. Winds will be on the increase out of the south around 10-15kts, with gusts up to 25kts 07z through the end of the TAF period. Winds will be strongest Sunday afternoon and evening for areas north of I-80, with some areas seeing 30kt to 35kt gusts. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for Burney Basin / Eastern Shasta County-Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Motherlode-Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley- Northern Sacramento Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Shasta Lake Area / Northern Shasta County-Southern Sacramento Valley- West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. Wind Advisory from 4 AM to 10 PM PST Sunday for Central Sacramento Valley-Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley-Northern Sacramento Valley. Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday evening through Friday morning for West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas County/Lassen Park. &&
The Beale AFB radar (KBBX), 27 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:08 UTC.
22 flood, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
California Highway Patrol reported a mud/dirt/rock slide from heavy rain at Centerville Road and Honey Run Road.
California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide blocking the northbound lane with boulders in the road due to heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported standing water on Interstate 5 at Pit River Bridge from heavy rain.
Placer County sheriff reported that heavy rain caused rising water levels on the South Yuba River near Hampshire Rocks Rd between Donner Pass RD and Cisco Road. One home with nine occupants was evacuated at approximately 1pm.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at South Market Street and Buenaventura Boulevard.
California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide at Shasta Dam Boulevard and Lake Boulevard from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding on the Cypress Ave offramp along Interstate 5 in Shasta County from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at State Route 44 and Interstate 5 from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at Clear Creek Road and Cloverdale Road from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at Texas Springs Road and Lone Star Court.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at Frenchtown Road and Pepper Tree Lane from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding.
California Highway Patrol reported flooding at Interstate 5 and Hartwell Avenue from heavy rain.
A Convergence Zone set up over Redding/Shasta County around 1 PM on Sunday, December 21. Heavy rain fell until around 7 PM, where there was a lull before another line redeveloped and brought additional moderate to heavy rain into the late evening. County officials reported numerous reports of widespread flash flooding, stranded vehicles, and road closures. Commercial and residential damage was reported to over 170 structures with preliminary damage estimates upwards of 7 million dollars, from both public and private. One fatality was reported. Rain estimates were around 3-7 in 9 hours over the Redding and Southern Shasta County Area.
California Highway Patrol reported flash flooding from heavy rain with the river coming over the bridge at State Route 99 and Old Ranch Road. A semi truck and 6 to 7 vehicles were stuck as a result.
California Highway Patrol reported a water rescue from a vehicle at South Avenue and Hall Road in flooding from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding along State Route 299 from heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported a road closure due to flooding at northbound State Route 273 from South Bonneyview Road and from Buenaventura Boulevard to Wyndham Lane due to heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported a rock slide from heavy rain blocking the road in the southbound lane of Pleasant Valley Road near South Yuba River State Park.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at West Sacramento Avenue and Meridian Road due to heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported a mud and rock slide with the westbound lane covered in approximately 1 foot of mud due to heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at Cox Lane and Lone Tree Road.
California Highway Patrol reported mud slides in the southbound lane due to heavy rain.
California Highway Patrol reported a mud and rock slide on State Route 70 at Storrie Bridge from heavy rain. An 18 wheeler was stuck at the slide.
California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding at Silva Valley Pkwy and Harvard Way.
California Highway Patrol reported a mud and rock slide on N Bloomfield Road between Wet Hill and Highway 49 from heavy rain.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Shasta | 2025-12-21 | 74 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1307870, 1307871, 1307858, 1306960, 1307859, 1307872, 1307860, 1307861, 1307862, 1307863, 1307855, 1306958, 1307865, 1306934, 1307856, 1307857, 1307866, 1307867, 1307874, 1307868, 1307875, 1307869, 1307876, 1307877, 1306956, 1307880.