A significant storm is headed to Southern California, with rain, mountain snow and gusty winds expected to last through Wednesday.
Some light rain is possible after midnight Sunday, and most areas of Los Angeles and Orange County will experience substantial rainfall by Monday morning that will continue throughout the day and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Total rainfall could exceed 4 inches, according to the NWS’ Los Angeles office.
A flash flood watch was announced for the Bond and Silverado fire burn scars in Orange County from late Monday night through Tuesday evening, and flood watches were issued for inland Orange County cities and foothill communities.
“Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, urbanized street flooding, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn scars,” the NWS stated.
The rain is predicted to lighten on Wednesday, though it will still be intermittent.
A significant storm system remains on track to impact #SoCal tonight through Wed. 1-5 inches of rain expected across the area with mountain snow and winter driving conditions over the passes, including the Grapevine. Please plan accordingly! #CAwx #LArain #LAsnow #BringIt pic.twitter.com/YmOb4Nsf5u
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) November 6, 2022
Tuesday is expected to bring the heaviest rain for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the NWS says. A flash flood watch was issued for the Apple and El Dorado burn scar areas from late Monday night through Wednesday morning.
The forecast remains locked in on significant rainfall across #SoCal with the heaviest occurring Tuesday morning-Tuesday night. It looks warmer, so snow totals were lowered quite a bit for the mountain communities. Winds will crank up with the windiest day being Tuesday. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/ast46mRzak
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) November 6, 2022
A flood watch is an indicator that residents should be prepared or consider protecting property. Next would come a flood advisory, meaning the weather could cause a significant inconvenience or worse, and then a flood warning, an announcement that hazardous weather is imminent or already happening.
A drying trend is expected for the latter half of the week.
In the mountains, snow accumulation is possible Monday night at 6,500 to 7,000 feet, where forecasters predicted 6-12 inches, with local amounts up to 20 inches.
Wind gusts of 40 mph are expected Sunday night and Monday in the mountains and high desert, increasing to 55 mph Tuesday. The weather service advised motorists to “prepare for slick roads and wintry travel in the mountains,” as well as potential issues along the Grapevine on Tuesday night.
Wind gusts as high as 30 mph are predicted during Tuesday’s showers in downtown Riverside and up to 20 mph in Hemet.
The wet weather will be accompanied by chillier days and nights. Daytime temperatures are expected to drop into the low 60s in the valleys and the downtown Los Angeles area Monday through Wednesday, with lows in the 50s Monday and Tuesday and the lower 40s Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday’s highs are only expected to reach 58 in Pasadena and Santa Clarita and 53 in Lancaster.
The Antelope Valley will see overnight temperatures below freezing level later this week, with lows of 33, 30 and 31 degrees expected Wednesday through Friday.