Officials in Los Angeles and surrounding counties warned that a "very dangerous" holiday storm could trigger "widespread flash flooding."

A powerful winter storm swept across Southern California on Wednesday, with heavy rain threatening mudslides and debris flows in areas scorched by wildfires, bringing near white-out snow conditions in the mountains and hazardous travel for millions of holiday drivers.

Heavy rain and gusty winds from a powerful winter storm system are bringing flash floods and mudslides to parts of Southern California.

Forecasters said heavy rain was expected to drench much of Southern California through the holidays, and officials warned the storm could be deadly.

Los Angeles County was placed under a tornado warning by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 10:20 a.m. The warning is in effect until 10:45 a.m.

Widespread Flash Flood Warnings were issued across the Los Angeles metro area and other parts of Southern California Wednesday, as a powerful Christmas Eve storm triggered mudslides and emergency evacuations across the region.

Residents of Los Angeles spent the day before Christmas under rain showers and winds of around 40 mph, while the New England area braces for heavy snow later in the week.

A tornado, flash flood and several storm warnings were active across Ventura and Los Angeles counties on Wednesday