Widespread rain and winds hit Southern California, with mountain snow on the way
Widespread showers and heavy winds swept through Southern California Wednesday morning, with cooler weather and mountain snow expected by Thursday.
San Gabriel Dam received 1.26 inches of rain, the most in the area, according to preliminary precipitation totals from the National Weather Service office in Oxnard. Camp Nine, in the Santa Clarita Valley area, got 0.88 of an inch, and Tanbark, in the San Gabriel Mountains, got 0.77 of an inch.
Most other areas of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties received ½ inch or less of rainfall as of noon Wednesday.
A new storm system was forecast to move through the area Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Most areas are expected to receive ¼ inch or less of rain, except in the mountains, which could see ½ inch.
Snow is expected to fall at elevations as low as 3,000 feet by Thursday morning; 1 to 2 inches of snow are possible over the Tejon Pass, the weather service said.
A winter weather advisory will be in place from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday for the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Total snow accumulations of up to 2 inches are possible.
Researchers say flooding from a 100-year storm could impact up to 1 million people in and around Los Angeles, 30 times more than previously estimated.
The system is also expected to bring onshore wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph, the weather service said. Low humidity and elevated fire weather conditions are expected from Thursday to Friday morning.
A wind advisory issued Wednesday afternoon for Lancaster and Palmdale will remain in effect until 10 p.m., the weather service said. Westerly winds from 20 mph to 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph are expected. A separate wind advisory was in place for the L.A. County coast from noon Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday, with potential gusts of up to 40 mph.
“We have to be careful with the winds … especially this early in the season,” said Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the Oxnard office.
Meteorologists with the weather service’s San Diego office, which also covers Orange County and the Inland Empire, said two areas broke daily precipitation records Wednesday.
Santa Ana received 0.42 of an inch of rain, breaking the record of 0.2 of an inch set in 1913, and Oceanside Harbor’s total rainfall of 0.29 of an inch broke the previous record of 0.25 of an inch set in 2014.
The San Diego office also reported gusty conditions Wednesday, with Cuyamaca Peak in San Diego County recording maximum gusts of 71 mph at 9:47 a.m.
Wrightwood saw gusts of 65 mph at 1 p.m., and Toro Peak in Riverside County recorded gusts of 63 mph at 3:23 a.m., the weather service said. Most areas saw gusts in the 20 mph to 40 mph range.
The state report paints a stark picture of California’s escalating climate crisis and documents wide-ranging effects on weather, water and residents.
Showers also moved through the San Diego office’s forecast area, with most gauges recording 0.2 of an inch of rain or less, according to a preliminary weather service report.
Lytle Creek Canyon in San Bernardino County received 1.69 inches of rain, the highest total recorded through noon Wednesday. Nearby San Sevaine followed with 1.58 inches, and a remote station, also at Lytle Creek, recorded 1.43 inches.
The highest rainfall total for coastal Orange County was 0.32 of an inch at Lower Oso Creek. El Cariso, in the Santa Ana Mountains, received 0.36 of an inch of rain.
A wind advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. for the San Bernardino Mountains, and the Apple and Lucerne valleys, the weather service said.
A winter weather advisory for the San Bernardino Mountains, including Big Bear, Big Bear Lake, Running Springs and Wrightwood, will be in place from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, the weather service said.
Snow levels will fall to around 4,000 feet by morning, meteorologists said. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are expected above 6,000 feet, and 3 to 5 inches are possible on the highest peaks.
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