Rain spreads into Southern California
The prevailing dry pattern and extreme fire conditions in place across Southern California is anticipated to evolve in a positive way throughout this week as a trough advances along the West Coast.
AccuWeather meteorologists say that upper-level energy swirling southward through Southern California will usher in beneficial moisture to the region. Rising dew points and measurable rainfall will expand across the parched valleys, while mountain snow can develop in the cooler spots above 3,000-4,000 feet in elevation.
While the ongoing weather pattern has indeed been active in terms of wind and wildfires, this recent development in the pattern through the end of the weekend into early this week can bring a reprieve of sorts for residents that have been longing for rain.
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By Saturday afternoon, pockets of rain and showers began to moisten areas of the Los Angeles basin and surrounding valleys. For many of these locations, this event will mark the most notable round of precipitation since April 2024.
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"Following the onset of drizzle Saturday afternoon, rain will continue to slowly increase in areal coverage and intensity into Monday as the onshore regime continues. We're expecting rainfall totals on the order of 0.50-1.00 of an inch for most of the LA basin, around San Diego and near the surrounding coastal areas," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson.
Into early week, forecasters are highlighting the risk for thunder or even small hail from portions of the Central Valley to the LA basin as the onshore flow pulls moisture inland.
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Many sites have not observed more than 0.25 of an inch of rain in a single event for several months, creating very dry conditions across much of Southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona. Several counties along the south coast and inland desert regions are currently reporting levels of extreme and severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.
The wet pattern will persist through Monday, impacting areas along interstates 5, 8, 10 and 15. The highest rainfall totals are projected to be across the upslope regions of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Santa Rosa mountain ranges, where anywhere from 1-2 inches of rain can occur with the AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 3 inches.
Locations farther inland in Southern California like Bakersfield, Lancaster and Victorville are projected to pick up anywhere from 0.25-0.50 of an inch of rain during this event.
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"The buildup of oils and chemicals on highways and interstates can create slick conditions, especially at the onset of this much-needed rainfall. Cars and trucks can leak oil, coolant and other fluids onto the road, creating a buildup that hasn't had a chance to wash away in an extended period of time," noted Hinson.
Hinson added that another concern arising with this event will be landslides or debris flows in any fresh burn scars, where trees and vegetation that have been burned can no longer provide support to the land beneath it.
From early week to midweek, conditions will trend drier across Southern California as moisture from this weekend's storm transitions into the Four Corners region.
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