Southern California is ringing in the new year with rain that could be record-breaking in parts of the region, with wet weather expected to continue into early next week, according to forecasters.
Rain that began New Year’s Eve is expected to intensify overnight and into Thursday morning, Jan. 1 — prompting a flood watch for parts of Orange County, the Inland Empire and nearby mountain areas.
“It looks like a wet morning for the Rose Parade,” said Bryan Lewis, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The rain should largely moving out of the area by the time the Rose Bowl game begins in the afternoon.
The Rose Parade has rarely seen significant rainfall. In 2006, 1.57 inches fell in the area, according to meteorologist Joe Sirard of the Weather Service.
In Los Angeles, more than an inch of rain has not been recorded on New Year’s Day since 1934.
Forecasters said flooding could occur more easily than usual because soils remain saturated from last week’s Christmas storm.
Across much of greater Los Angeles, forecasters expect roughly 1 to 2 inches of rain through Thursday, with higher totals possible in foothill and mountain areas, Lewis said. For Orange County, rainfall totals of about 1 to 1.5 inches are expected from coastal to inland areas through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Similar totals are forecast for much of the Inland Empire, while the San Bernardino Mountains could see the highest amounts, with totals of about 3 to 5 inches possible in some areas, said NWS meteorologist Lauren Villafane.
Rainfall rates are generally expected to remain under a half-inch per hour, though brief heavier downpours are possible overnight and early Thursday, particularly if thunderstorms develop. Forecasters said there is a chance of thunderstorms on Thursday, which could bring short bursts of heavier rain, gusty winds and small hail.
“With the ground already soaked, it won’t take much rain to cause runoff,” Lewis said. “That means street flooding and other impacts could happen more quickly.”
Forecasters warned that excessive runoff could lead to flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, along with debris flows near recent burn scars. Rockslides and rocks in the road are also possible in mountain and canyon areas.
With additional storms forecast into next week, Gov. Gavin Newsom has directed the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to pre-position fire and rescue resources in areas most at risk for flooding, mudslides and debris flows. For Los Angeles County, that includes staging swift-water rescue teams, fire crews and other emergency resources in areas vulnerable to flooding and burn-scar impacts.
Rain is expected to ease Friday before another storm system arrives late Saturday. From Saturday through the middle of next week, forecasters expect additional periods of rain, with estimates calling for around 2 inches across Orange County, 1.5 to 2 inches in the Inland Empire, and 3 to 6 inches in the San Bernardino Mountains in the heaviest areas, Villafane said. Lewis said the most likely outcome for the Los Angeles area over that same stretch is several more inches of rain, with higher totals again possible in the foothills and mountains.
Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to monitor forecasts closely and be prepared to take action if flooding develops.
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