Southern Californians are in for another round of rain and snow starting Wednesday, but precipitation totals are expected to remain low in most areas, creating little disruption.
The system's biggest threat is unpredictable thunderstorms, which could bring heavy rain and flash flooding Wednesday afternoon and evening in some communities along the coast and valleys, according to Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. in Oxnard.
“In storms, you could get rainfall up to an inch an hour, a heavy downpour,” Schoenfeld said. That would be isolated to a limited number of areas, he said, but it was unclear exactly where or when the storms would hit.
Widespread showers are expected from Santa Barbara to San Diego as a cold low pressure system arrives from coastal waters off Point Conception early Wednesday and heads southeast over the next 48 hours. Rainfall totals are likely to remain below an inch, with the highest amounts occurring wherever a storm cell forms.
“Rainfall totals will range from a quarter [of an inch] up to 1 inch of rain,” said Mark Moede, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. “One hundred percent of the area is going to see some rain. It's just a question of how much.”
Rainfall amounts still appear to range between 0.25 and 0.75 inches, with local amounts of up to 1 to 2 inches in the foothills and mountains. The highest amounts should occur south of Point Conception. Snow levels could drop locally to 4,000-4,500 feet early Thursday. #CAwx #LARain pic.twitter.com/WHh8SbDWda
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 6, 2024
In the mountains, officials expect significant snowfall from the storm: up to 8 inches in the highest peaks of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and up to 6 inches in the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. .
A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Southern California mountains and will remain in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. In the mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, snow cover up to 4,500 feet is possible, and at higher elevations, including the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 corridors, the Weather Service Nacional warned that “travel could be difficult.” impossible.”
The rain is expected to end Wednesday night in Los Angeles County, but could persist into Thursday further south, while snow in the mountains will taper off Thursday afternoon, Schoenfeld said.
“We're looking at a dry period from Friday to Sunday,” Moede said, “just in time for daylight saving time.”
However, a high surf warning will remain in effect Thursday and Friday along beaches in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where dangerous rip currents and waves that could reach up to 11 feet are expected, according to the National Weather Service. .
