After a few days of drizzle, warmer weather is on the horizon for Southern California. A weak cold front made its way through the region on Monday, bringing light rain to areas like San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties before moving into Los Angeles County in the afternoon, as reported by the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld from the National Weather Service in Oxnard mentioned that there is a 50% to 70% chance of rain in Los Angeles County, particularly in the mountains and San Gabriel Valley. Rainfall amounts are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch for regions south of Point Conception.
In the mountains, forecasters predict a few inches of snow above 5,000 feet as the cold front passes through. Additionally, the 5 Freeway near the Grapevine may experience a light dusting of powder. However, by Tuesday, Los Angeles is expected to return to sunshine with temperatures ranging from the high 60s to mid-70s for the remainder of the week. Schoenfeld stated, “It doesn’t look like there’s any specific rain chances at least through this upcoming Sunday.”
Monday’s light rain follows a wet week that brought much-needed moisture to Southern California and heavy snowfall across the state’s mountain ranges. Downtown Los Angeles has received 2.04 inches of rain this month. Despite this, the region is still behind on rainfall after a notably dry start to the water year that began on October 1. Prior to Monday’s precipitation, downtown L.A. had only received 7.62 inches of rain since the start of the water year, which is below the average of 12.17 inches for this time of year.
Over the weekend, Northern California experienced a storm that brought steady rain to the Bay Area, along with strong winds and mountain snow. The upper part of the state is expected to have wet and snowy weather until Monday, with a winter storm warning in effect for the northern Sierra Nevada region, including the Lake Tahoe area, until 11 p.m. The warning advises of heavy snow and winds gusting up to 75 mph, with up to 2 feet of fresh snow expected at the highest peaks.
In the central Sierra Nevada, a winter weather advisory is in place until 11 p.m., including Yosemite National Park, warning of heavy snow and strong winds that could make travel very difficult. Additionally, a high wind warning is set to be issued at 11 a.m. in the Mojave Desert slopes, with west winds ranging from 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph, according to the weather service.
Looking ahead for Southern California, there is a possibility of another storm bringing more rain towards the end of the month. However, forecasters are unable to determine the exact amount of precipitation the region may receive at this time. Weather patterns can be unpredictable, so it’s essential to stay informed and prepared for any upcoming changes in the forecast. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the weather in your area.
