Storms to bring rain, snow to California all week

A second, stronger storm expected to arrive Monday night and Tuesday and drop about a half an inch of rain.

“We’re in one of those patterns where we have an active Pacific jet” continually bringing systems in, National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Orrison said.

In Southern California, Residents of the Silverado Canyon burn area in Orange County and the Solimar burn area in Ventura County were told they may want to evacuate in advance of the storm, but have not been ordered to do so. Officials are urging residents to prepare for the downpour.

The rainfall has prompted extensive preparations in vulnerable areas, including mountain and canyon areas and regions that were recently burned by brush fires. Workers in Azusa cleared storm drains and handed out sandbags, while in nearby Glendora, police announced restricted parking measures for steep roadways under barren hillsides.

The first storm will move through late on Sunday into Tuesday morning. Between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain are predicted to fall across the coastal and valley areas through Friday, with up to 5 inches falling in the mountains. People should expect delays and possible flooding in areas with poor drainage, according to Benjamin. There is the potential for flash flooding Tuesday and Wednesday. 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. In Orange County, a high surf advisory will go into effect at 4 p.m. today, lasting until 10 p.m. Friday.

While every weather situation has multiple causes, a strong El Niño is “absolutely influencing” the current situation, he said, as it tends to bring wetter, cooler weather to the southern tier of the USA, including Southern California. The NWS forecast highs of 40 in Big Bear; 49 on Mount Wilson; 54 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 56 in Saugus; 60 in Redlands, Burbank and Van Nuys; 61 in Northridge and Rancho Cucamonga; 62 in Pasadena, West Covina, San Gabriel, Ontario and San Bernardino; 63 in Whittier; and 64 in Avalon, Long Beach, downtown L.A., Torrance, San Pedro and at LAX. Highs are expected to be in the mid- to upper 50s with lows in the low 40s through the week.