Southern California Braces for Another Storm: Here’s What to Expect
Rainstorm Expected to Impact Southern California as New Year Approaches
LOS ANGELES – Southern California is bracing for a significant weather shift as a rainstorm begins moving into the region, coinciding with the New Year celebrations. Residents are advised to prepare for inclement weather, including high winds and heavy rainfall.
Forecasters anticipate that Santa Ana winds will continue to gust across the area on Tuesday, prompting wind advisories that will remain in effect until 3 p.m. The weather is expected to deteriorate further as a wet weather system, fueled by moisture from the coast of Mexico, approaches the region overnight.
Rain is expected to start on Wednesday morning, initially producing light to moderate rainfall. However, conditions are set to worsen late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with heavier rainfall anticipated. On-and-off showers are predicted to persist through Thursday, with additional rain expected on Friday. A more widespread wave of rain is likely to arrive by Saturday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting between 1 to 3 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas and 2 to 5 inches in mountainous regions by week’s end. This rainfall comes on top of already saturated ground, raising concerns about potential mud and debris flows in affected areas.
The NWS emphasized the high likelihood of rain impacting the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. "The chances of a wet New Year’s parade, including the night before when people come out to see the floats, are extremely high, estimated at 80-90%," a forecaster stated.
Historically, the Rose Parade in Pasadena has enjoyed clear weather, having only faced rain during a handful of its 136-year history. If the forecasts hold, this year’s event will mark the first rainfall on the parade since 2006. However, the upcoming storm is likely to be significantly lighter than previous events.
As final preparations for the parade are underway, authorities continue to urge residents and attendees to stay vigilant in light of the forecasted conditions. Expectations of "periods of light to moderate rain" have raised calls for participants to plan accordingly to ensure they remain dry.
