WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A strong storm system that brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California this week was expected to ease Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada.
Waves near the San Francisco Bay Area could reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) Friday, parts of Southern California were at risk of flooding, and avalanches could hit the Lake Tahoe area, officials warned. Residents were told to be ready to evacuate the mountain town of Wrightwood about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles because of mudslides.
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Workers work to restore power after severe storms, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
A car is flipped over along a storm-damaged road after a series of storms on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, near Phelan, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Mud covers the inside of a property after a series of storms on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Michelle Meyers inspects her property, buried in mud after a series of storms, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
A car is buried in mud after a series of storms Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Atmospheric rivers carried massive plumes of moisture from the tropics during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The storms were blamed for at least two deaths earlier in the week.
The system brought the wettest Christmas season to downtown Los Angeles in 54 years, the National Weather Service said.
Roads in the 5,000-resident town of Wrightwood were covered in rocks, debris and thick mud on Thursday. With power out, a gas station and coffee shop running on generators were serving as hubs for residents and visitors.
“It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo.
Lopiccolo said the family almost evacuated the previous day, when water washed away a chunk of their backyard. But they decided to stay and still celebrated the holiday. Lopiccolo got a new snowboard and e-bike.
“We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights,” he said.
Davey Schneider hiked a mile and a half (1.6 kilometers) through rain and floodwater up to his shins from his Wrightwood residence Wednesday to rescue cats from his grandfather’s house.
“I wanted to help them out because I wasn’t confident that they were going to live,” Schneider said Thursday. “Fortunately, they all lived. They’re all okay — just a little bit scared.”
Arlene Corte said roads in town turned into rivers, but her house was not damaged.
“It could be a whole lot worse,” she said. “We’re here talking.”
With more rain on the way, more than 150 firefighters were stationed in the area, said San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Shawn Millerick.
“We’re ready,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”
A falling tree killed a San Diego man Wednesday, news outlets reported. Farther north, a Sacramento sheriff’s deputy died in what appeared to be a weather-related crash.
Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood advisories were issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.
More wind and heavy snow was expected in the Sierra Nevada, where gusts created “near white-out conditions” and made mountain pass travel treacherous.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in six counties to allow state assistance.
The state deployed resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.
Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Oakland, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.
Workers work to restore power after severe storms, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
A car is flipped over along a storm-damaged road after a series of storms on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, near Phelan, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Mud covers the inside of a property after a series of storms on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
Michelle Meyers inspects her property, buried in mud after a series of storms, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
A car is buried in mud after a series of storms Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Wrightwood, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Broncos coach Sean Payton sent his offense back onto the field on fourth down Thursday night, the ball inside the Kansas City Chiefs' 10-yard line and less than 2 minutes left on the clock — and no intention of ever snapping it.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones didn't know that. And when he jumped, and the offsides penalty gave Denver a fresh set of down, Bo Nix needed a mere three more plays to hit R.J. Harvey with the go-ahead touchdown pass in a 20-13 victory Thursday night.
One secured when the Broncos made one last stop in the closing second at their end of the field.
“We were going to take the delay-of-game,” Payton said afterward. “Obviously that changed the complexion of the clock, and that was a big play. We were going to take the penalty and kick the field goal. That was the plan.”
Now, the Broncos (13-3) are one step closer to locking up the AFC West, which they can do while watching at home if Houston beats the Chargers on Saturday. They also have a chance to still land the No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye.
“It would be relaxing,” Payton said of clinching this weekend. “It would be nice.”
Nix also ran for a touchdown while throwing for 182 yards as the Broncos beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since September 17, 2015. They also have won four of the last five in the series following a string of 16 consecutive losses.
“It's great to get that win," Payton said. “You always have to remember this: You're playing the heart of a champion, Andy Reid and this team. I don't care who comes out of that locker room. This is a team that basically has been at the top of our league for the better part of this century, and there's a ton of respect we have for what they've been able to accomplish.”
Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun and tight end Travis Kelce tried to give Kansas City a chance in the final seconds, driving quickly down field after the Broncos had taken the lead. But a third-down pass at the Denver 26 was just out of Kelce's reach, and Oladokun overthrew Marquise Brown in the end zone on fourth down to seal the outcome.
The Chiefs (6-10) were missing Patrick Mahomes and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, both of whom tore ligaments in their knees in back-to-back weeks, and were left to watch the game together from a suite. They also were missing Rashee Rice and several players on both sides of the ball that had been so crucial to their three straight Super Bowl trips.
Oladokun wound up with 66 yards passing. Kelce had five catches for 36 of those yards in what might have been the last game played by the Pro Bowl tight end at Arrowhead Stadium — he plans to announce soon after the season whether he is retiring.
“I’ll let that be a decision I’ll make with my family, friends, the Chiefs organization when the time comes," Kelce said.
The Broncos were nearly two-touchdown favorites, according to BetMGM, yet the Chiefs may have been inspired by hearing about the Vikings, who earlier in the day knocked off the favored Lions behind their defense and their own third-string quarterback.
After giving up a grinding, 14-play drive that soaked up more than half the first quarter and net the Broncos a field goal, Kansas City allowed little else through the first 30 minutes. And along the way, a defense put its top two cornerbacks on injured reserve this week managed to pick off Nix, setting up a short field that Oladokun converted into his first career touchdown throw.
It also happened to be Brashard Smith's first career touchdown catch.
The Broncos tried to answer with another 8-plus minute drive late in the half, but Courtland Sutton dropped a would-be touchdown toss in the closing seconds, and Wil Lutz had to kick his second chip-shot field goal to make it 7-6 at the break.
Denver finally got one of its long, time-consuming drives into the end zone in the third quarter, though. The Chiefs had pushed the lead to 10-6 when the Broncos churned through 72 yards in nearly 10 minutes, and Nix finished by scrambling nine yards for the score.
And the inability of the Kansas City offense to do much of anything was its undoing.
The Chiefs managed just 16 yards on their first three possessions of the second half, and that gave the Broncos a chance. They drove 65 yards late in the fourth quarter, twice converting on third down and then getting a fourth-down gift when Jones went early inside the 10-yard line, allowing Nix to find Harvey in the back of the end zone for the eventual winning score.
“We just did what we had to do,” Nix said.
Broncos: C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day.
Chiefs: WR Nikko Remigio (knee) was placed on IR. OL Jaylon Moore (knee) and DT Derrick Nnadi (illness) were inactive.
Denver wraps up the regular season next week against the Chargers.
Kansas City finishes its season next week in Las Vegas.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (19) looks to pass as teammate center Creed Humphrey, right, blocks Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith, center, evades tackles by Denver Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad, left, and linebacker Alex Singleton (49) while scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith (24) celebrates with wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, center, and quarterback Chris Oladokun (19) after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin (38) rushes for a first down as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Ashton Gillotte (97) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
