Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed 55 fire engines and rescue crews across the state during the storms and his declaration allows counties to request federal aid.

Officials in Los Angeles and surrounding counties warned that the giant holiday storm could trigger "widespread flash flooding."

More than 122 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles for Christmas and New Year's holidays this year.

The storms were the result of so-called atmospheric rivers and were blamed for at least two deaths earlier this week.

Much of Southern California is under a flood advisory as rain makes travel dangerous, while a snowstorm heads for the Northeastern U.S.

Several days of rain and powerful wind gusts are in the forecast this week when a winter storm has already led to evacuation warnings in parts of Los Angeles County settles into Southern California for the holiday.

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

Meanwhile, the rough weather will continue for California, with another round of rain on Christmas Day. The ground in Southern California will be so vulnerable at that point from Wednesday’s rain, so the new round of rain could trigger renewed flooding, landslides and debris flows.