The California Highway Patrol reported a seemingly weather-related crash south of Sacramento in which a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died. James Caravallo, who was with the agency for 19 years, was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.

Water flooded the parking lot of a shopping mall in Glendale, California, as powerful winter storm swept southern California on Christmas Eve.Video filmed by Roger Justin Caffier at Glendale Galleria shows water cascading down a flight of stairs onto a completely inundated parking area.

Forecasters warned the additional rain could increase the risk of debris flows in waterlogged areas scorched by wildfires in January.

The authorities said some residents had resisted leaving their homes on the holidays, but forecasters warned the storm could be deadly, especially where burn scars from this year’s fires remain.

Residents in the Malibu area are bracing for heavy rain as a Christmas week storm is set to arrive in Southern California on Tuesday.

Forecasters say expected 'worst Christmas storm' is elevating flood risk for a large swath of southwest California.