Rose Parade to Roll Despite Chance of Rain

It just might rain on our parade.

The National Weather Service predicted a 50% chance of precipitation Monday, the day of the 2006 Rose Parade. But rain or shine, the parade will go on as scheduled, Tournament of Roses officials said.

The last time it rained on a Rose Parade was 51 years ago -- Jan. 1, 1955 -- and it has rained only nine times in the parade’s 116-year history.

If the parade were being held New Year’s Day, as it usually is, there probably wouldn’t be any rain, the weather service said Tuesday. But under a “never on Sunday” rule adopted in 1893, the Rose Parade is moved to Monday when Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday.

Forecasters said the weather will be gloomy, damp and cool for the next week or so, as several Pacific storms swing inland at or near Southern California -- typical conditions for this time of year despite the general lack of rain on Rose Parades.

Today should be partly to mostly cloudy, with a 20% chance of light rain by tonight, especially along the foothills. Partly cloudy weather, but no rain, is forecast for Thursday, but overcast skies should intensify Friday, with fairly heavy rain expected Friday night and Saturday.

Sunday morning is expected to be dry, but rain should start falling in the afternoon and increasing at night.

Unfortunately for parade-goers, the rain is expected to continue into Monday, with a 50% chance during the morning’s festivities in Pasadena and about 30% chance at night.

Temperatures in the Los Angeles Basin for the week will range from overnight lows in the 40s and 50s to midday highs in the 50s and 60s, the weather service said.

Forecasters said it’s still too early to predict whether there will be rain for the Rose Bowl football game -- a national collegiate championship contest between the USC Trojans and the University of Texas Longhorns that will be played on Jan. 4.