El Nino storms slam drought-parched California

Day after day rain is expected for about a week, with the heaviest forecast to arrive on Tuesday.

The storms, which according to the National Weather Service will begin Sunday night and potentially last through Friday, will bring an increased risk of flooding, mudslides and unsafe surf to a region that so far has had an exceptionally dry winter.

Hikers walk along a path at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area near downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. In strong El Nio years like this one, warmer storms line up across the mid-latitudes of the Pacific, flowing one after another along the sub-tropical jet stream from Japan, across the north of Hawaii, to California.

The severe lack of rain had even prompted Governor Jerry Brown to implement water conservation measures, demanding a reduction of 25% in drinking water use, so as to lower pressure placed on the severely depleted water supply. There are layers on the map that will show flooding and storm information when the weather gets intense, and allow users to see weather webcams in various locations throughout the LA area, plus how traffic is moving on freeways. Officials are urging residents to prepare for the downpour.

In all, there will be four storms this week – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

El Nino storms generally peak in California in January, February and March.

Between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain is predicted to fall across the coastal and valley areas of Southern California through Friday, with up to 5 inches falling in the mountains. During a brief news conference Sunday night, Garcetti said the city has spent months clearing out thousands of storm drains and it will also activate its emergency operation centers to track the storms.

In recent weeks, the system has generated unusual weather across the United States with unseasonably high temperatures in the northeast, uncommon winter tornados in the south, and a deluge of snow across the west.

Most of the impact on the United States is expected early this year, NASA says.

“We want as little damage and destruction and as little death as possible”, Garcetti said.

The second system will produce heavy rain and strong winds.