Christmas Day Storm Floods Streets, Knocks Out Power Across Bay Area

A powerful storm sweeping through the Bay Area on Christmas Day left flooded streets, hazardous driving conditions, and widespread power outages, disrupting holiday plans for thousands of residents.

In Daly City, floodwaters submerged a portion of 89th Street, leaving cars partially underwater. Resident Ricardo Arazo shared video showing vehicles sitting in deep water, some appearing to float in the middle of the street. Arazo’s own car was parked on a low-lying section of the road, forcing him to wade through waist-high water to push it to higher ground.

The flooding brought his family’s Christmas celebration to an abrupt stop. Arazo said the rising water required immediate attention, pulling them away from holiday plans as they worked to protect their vehicle and home.

The storm’s impact extended well beyond Daly City. Across the Bay Area, heavy rain and strong winds contributed to freeway spinouts, tense commutes over major bridges, and low visibility for drivers, including during peak holiday travel hours near Burlingame.

Power outages added another layer of disruption. PG&E reported tens of thousands of customers across the region lost electricity at various points during the storm. Spokesperson Jeff Smith said crews were deployed throughout the Bay Area to restore service as quickly as possible, acknowledging the added frustration outages bring during a major holiday.

As conditions improved, Arazo said the flooding brought back memories of similar storms in previous years. He worries future rain could cause the same problems again, noting that flooding has occurred multiple times in the past.

Pete Serratos reported on the storm’s aftermath as crews continued recovery efforts and residents assessed the damage left behind.

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