Acting California Governor Abel Maldonado declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon for Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, after the region was hit with five days of torrential downpours. Rain accumulation measurements were as high as nine inches. The downpour let up today, but L.A. and Santa Barbara are now knee-deep in mud, and the National Weather Service is forecasting more rain for the region on Christmas day. Sounds like it's high-time for a Christmas Eve mud-sliding party, then.

Rain respite gives southern California, Southwest time to clean up [CNN]