A rare New Year's Day storm drenched Southern California, triggering slides and major road closures across the Los Angeles area, as well as swift water rescues on San Diego roadways. Flooding on the 5 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley prompted Caltrans to shut down all lanes between Tuxford Street and Lankershim Boulevard for several hours, while a mudslide closed Big Tujunga Canyon Road in Angeles National Forest. In San Diego, emergency crews worked to rescue motorists who found themselves trapped on flooded roadways. The storm, which the National Weather Service described as "very juicy," began around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, dumping 1.21 inches of rain on east Pasadena and 1.33 inches in downtown Los Angeles by 10 a.m. Typically, New Year's Day is rain-free in the Los Angeles area, with rain falling on just 10% of all New Year's Days between 1878 and 2025. The rainfall appeared to dampen enthusiasm for the 2026 Rose Parade, with smaller crowds than in years prior. However, some attendees used umbrellas, ponchos, and awnings to protect themselves from the downpour. Despite the rain, retired USPS letter carrier Michael Bartley, 66, was keeping warm with a patio heater as he sat under an awning, saving spaces for his family at their traditional viewing place. By 10 a.m., the storm appeared to be mostly over, but sunshine will not last, with light rain expected tomorrow afternoon and evening and another storm coming over the weekend.
