Wildfire Relief For S. California As Pattern Set To Change
A huge pattern change underway will deliver some relief to southern California’s dire wildfire situation. Valley and coastal rain and mountain snow are in the forecast today and early next week.
A large area of low pressure will crawl across central and southern California this weekend before reaching the Four Corners early next week. Part of a seismic weather pattern change, this disturbance will pull in plenty of Pacific moisture into cities that have been devastated by raging wildfires. A small win for many with rain expected to fall from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, and as far south as San Diego, Calif.
By the time the storm exits east on Monday, one-half inch to 1.5 inches locally of rainfall will be squeezed out along the Interstate 5 corridor in southern California. These amounts will provide relief to areas severely impacted by wildfires. Localized flooding, especially given how dry it has been in recent months, will be possible. In fact, Flood Watches have been posted in parts of southern California. Remember to follow a simple motto if you approach a flooded roadway, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Meanwhile, Pacific moisture flowing across the taller Sierra Nevada will be converted into mountain snow.
Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect over the Sierra Nevada into the Transverse Ranges in southern California, as well as for parts of Nevada and northwestern Arizona. Four to 8 inches of snowfall will be possible, with locally more than a foot could pile up! An inch or two of snow may also accumulate in some of the passes, such as the Tejon Pass on Interstate 5, making travel difficult across the region.
The parched start to the water year continues over much of southern California, southern Nevada and Utah, and into Arizona and New Mexico. Drought conditions continued to worsen over the past couple of weeks, with drought expanding and intensifying over much of southern California. This has caused bone-dry vegetation across southern California with the addition of Santa Ana winds leading to large and deadly wildfires.
It’s never too early to have a supply kit packed in case of inclement weather. A simple kit including a weather radio, water, blankets, batteries, and non-perishable food items will go a long way in the event of a power outage. It’s always best to avoid travel in rough weather as the roads will be dangerous.