Officials in Los Angeles are warning people about the imminent potential for life-threatening flooding Wednesday, asking people to stay aware as they celebrate Christmas Eve. The National Weather Service has issued the highest flash flood risk for parts of Los Angeles,

Los Angeles has issued a flash flood warning for Lancaster, Palmdale, and Vincent amid heavy flooding in Southern California. The alert warns of dangerous roads, overflowing drains, and potential property damage.

More than 41 million Americans across California, Nevada and Arizona are under flood watches on Wednesday amid a rare, high risk for excessive rainfall and flooding.

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 winter storm that delivered hours of rain on Christmas Eve produced flash flooding, mudslides and debris flows in the mountain community of Wrightwood. Steady rain hammered the San Bernardino County town for hours Wednesday morning and into the afternoon,

Potentially catastrophic rain is heading toward Los Angeles -- a region already scarred by recent extreme weather and climate events, making it more vulnerable.