SoCal communities left with mud, damage after days of wet weather

The weather forced 520 flights to be delayed and 52 flights to be canceled at LAX on Friday.

The weather forced 520 flights to be delayed and 52 flights to be canceled at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday.

Right in the middle of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, it was the Southern California weather that caused delays for travelers on Friday.

"We were supposed to leave earlier, like at 2 something. We've steady been pushed back, delayed, delayed, delayed," said Val Young from Sherman Oaks.

Cancellations and delays lit up the board at LAX as holiday travel and weather created a tough combination for passengers.

"Well, just a little anxiety. Because you don't want to delay your flight. Well, you don't want your flight delayed, because you want to get to family. You want to have fun with family. So, you know, just a little anxiety," said Jose Castro from Lake Elsinore.

"I travel a lot, and it doesn't bother me, you know? Waiting in the airport bothers me, though," Young said.

Travelers are reminded to give themselves extra time while traveling during the holidays and check their flight status before heading to the airport.

A man was found dead in what appeared to be a weather-related incident in Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A man was found dead in what appeared to be a weather-related incident in Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Around 9:45 a.m. Friday, a L.A. County Fire Department helicopter spotted a car that was partially submerged near 58th Street East and Avenue H-10 after Thursday's flooding.

Deputies said the vehicle was not visible from the roadway due to the terrain and significant flooding.

Los Angeles County deputies and fire personnel responded to the scene and found a man inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation into the man's death remains ongoing.

The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner will identify the man and work to determine the cause and manner of his death.

It's been a busy few days for the Los Angeles Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue team. Crews responded to at least five calls of people in the L.A. River or washes that connect to the river.

The LAFD's Swift Water Rescue team has responded to at least five calls of people in the L.A. River or washes that connect to the river.

On Friday morning, an LAFD helicopter hoisted a woman out of fast-moving water. The call first came from Pacoima.

"She traveled for about five miles down river, so they ended up finding her in the Tujunga river at the Victory overpass. So about five miles," LAFD Capt. Adam Van Gerpen said. "She had some hypothermic conditions, she had cuts and scrapes and bruises over her, but she was awake and talking to the firefighters."

A few hours later, crews responded to another call of someone in the river. At that point, air operations were grounded because of weather, so teams set up at different points in the San Fernando Valley ready to rescue anyone they spotted. That person wasn't located.

Of the five calls the Swift Water Rescue team responded to, crews were only able to locate people on two of those calls. That doesn't necessarily mean three people are missing, just that when firefighters arrived, they didn't see anyone in the river.

Cleanup is underway after heavy rains slammed Wrightwood. Mudslides caused damage, and the storm also knocked out power for thousands of SoCal Edison customers.

Cleanup is underway after heavy rains slammed Wrightwood. Mudslides caused damage, and the storm also knocked out power for thousands of SoCal Edison customers.

All Evacuation Warnings in Wrightwood were lifted on Friday as the community begins to assess the damage from the Christmas Eve storm.

Video shows Oriole Road buried after a river of water sent mud, debris and charred wood down the mountain and into the homes below.

Several feet of mud buried cars and left streets coated in rain-soaked sludge.

The area was previously impacted by the Bridge Fire.

"With the area being softened, so to speak, by the burn scars from the fall of 2024, the area holds less water. So, the natural channels get overwhelmed," said Ryan Beckers with San Bernardino County Fire.

Meanwhile, nearly 3,000 Southern California Edison customers remain without power. With some areas still inaccessible, it could be some time before service is restored.

While Highway 2 and the 138 Freeway are open, some sections will need to be reinforced.

Power lines in several areas remain precariously supported by line trucks as repairs begin.

Local authorities are remaining on high alert as the rain continues to fall.

"So, we are in watch mode, and the other thing that we are doing is, we got some extra coverage here up here today. We got hand crews both here and in Lytle Creek, in case something does occur again," Beckers said.

In Lytle Creek, residents are also dealing with damage. More than 100 residents of the Happy Jack neighborhood are cut off from the rest of the community after their only access road washed away.

"It got so bad that with the rainfall and the rocks and debris. It completely washed away the bridge," resident Amber Guerrero said.