Atmospheric River Turns Holiday Rush into Hydroplane Hazard
FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 25 – For thousands of drivers in Central California, the final sprint to Christmas dinner wasn’t paved with good intentions, but with standing water and brake lights. As a potent atmospheric river stalled over the San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday, the usual holiday frenzy collided with a relentless deluge, turning major arteries into obstacle courses and leaving travelers checking their watches instead of their mileage.
The chaos began early and escalated quickly. By noon on Christmas Eve, the rain had transformed portions of Highway 99 the state’s central spine into a slick, gray parking lot. Near Jensen Avenue in southeast Fresno, a two-car collision snarled traffic for miles, a testament to the unforgiving combination of high speeds and low visibility. While the California Highway Patrol (CHP) suspect flooding played a role, the miracle of the day was that no injuries were reported in the tangled metal.
There has definitely been an uptick in the number of collisions due to the weather, noted CHP Sgt. Joseph Bianchi, who spent much of the day responding to the fallout. His assessment paints a picture of a perfect storm: a wet roadway meeting the desperate urgency of last-minute shoppers and travelers. The collision factors remain the same, Bianchi explained. They’re just heightened when we have a wet roadway, less visibility, and more people trying to get some place at the last minute for the holiday season.
Just four miles away, the infrastructure itself began to buckle under the water’s weight. Caltrans was forced to shut down the northbound Highway 41 connector to eastbound Highway 180 for over three hours, as drainage systems failed to keep pace with the downpour. For drivers, it was a stark reminder that even familiar routes can turn treacherous when nature intervenes.
This wasn’t just a standard winter shower; it was the result of a significant atmospheric river event that has been battering the West Coast, bringing life-threatening conditions to parts of Southern California and heavy snow to the Sierra. For the Central Valley, it meant that the turn around, don’t drown mantra wasn’t just a slogan, but a necessary survival tactic.
The timing could hardly have been worse. AAA spokesperson Doug Johnson warned that the day after Christmas is projected to be one of the busiest travel days of the year. With the storm system expected to linger through the end of the week, the return trip may prove just as daunting as the arrival. People that want to avoid traffic and congestion, especially with this atmospheric river coming in, really should leave their homes before 10 a.m., Johnson advised.
If it looks dangerous and you don’t see other cars going through it, the old saying holds true: turn around, don’t drown. – Doug Johnson, AAA Spokesperson
Johnson’s warning highlights a critical danger often overlooked by confident drivers: the deceptive depth of roadway flooding. In a week where getting there is the priority, his words serve as a sobering check on the impulse to push through.
As the rain continues to fall through the holiday weekend, the message from officials is clear: slow down. The combination of slick tires, distracted driving, and holiday fatigue is a recipe for disaster that no amount of vehicle technology can fully mitigate. Whether you are heading to a family gathering or returning home, the best gift you can give this season is patience. The roads will clear eventually, but for now, the Central Valley remains at the mercy of the storm.
