A lull in widespread rainfall across Southern California during Tuesday’s daytime hours offered a brief respite from a series of storms, though forecasts predicted a return to wet conditions Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The temporary easing of precipitation followed a period of intense rainfall overnight Monday into Tuesday, with totals varying significantly across the region. As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, Malibu recorded 2.79 inches of rain, while Santa Monica saw 1.88 inches. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) registered 1.62 inches, and Burbank received 1.66 inches. Further inland, Van Nuys recorded 2.02 inches, El Monte 1.98 inches, and Long Beach 1.74 inches. Amounts diminished further east, with Fullerton at 1.37 inches, Chino at 1.05 inches, Ontario at 0.97 inches, and Riverside at 1.01 inches, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Despite the daytime lull, meteorologists anticipated the arrival of another storm system around 6 p.m. Tuesday, initially impacting parts of Los Angeles County and moving southward. CBS LA meteorologist Marina Jurica stated, “[Tuesday morning] we’ll see a little bit of sun, a little bit of sprinkles, and then it’s on to the main event.”
The incoming system was expected to deliver between .5 inch and 1 inch of additional rainfall between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, with Wednesday remaining largely dry from dawn onward. A CBS LA Next Weather Alert was expected to remain in effect through Thursday, acknowledging the lasting impacts of Monday’s rainfall and wind. While significant, rainfall totals from the new system were not projected to match those experienced on Monday.
The National Weather Service also issued a Winter Storm Warning, effective from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, anticipating snow levels dropping to around 3,000 feet in elevation by Wednesday morning. The warning indicated the potential for 1-3 inches of snow on Interstate 5, with higher accumulations in the surrounding mountains.
The broader weather pattern is driven by a powerful atmospheric river targeting California, bringing threats of flooding, damaging winds, and high waves. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles has alerted millions to the potential for flash flooding and even tornadoes early in the week. The FOX Forecast Center noted that of the 49 tornadoes recorded in Los Angeles County since 1950, only nine occurred during the winter months.
Portions of the state are currently at a level 2 out of 4 flood risk, and creeks and rivers are expected to rise quickly, with urban flooding possible around Los Angeles.
