Results tagged “rain”

For the third night in a row, Conan made fun of Los Angeles and how we apparently all freak out over rain. You know, as in the unusual amount of car crashes and the dramatic STORMWATCH newscasts? Yeah, exactly.

As we have been saying, if you're not heading up to Mammoth to ski, you'll be down here for the expected hot temps this weekend. The moderate rainstorm of the past couple days is creeping away and the heat is coming back. Expect temperatures from the 70s to even maybe the low 90s, depending on where you live (beachside, valleyside?). And as nice as the weather will be, is it a good idea to go swimming in the ocean? Some say not after the rain.

Because rain continued to drop today, the Los Angeles County Department of Health extended an advisory that warned beach goers to stay away from swimming near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers. That's because "bacteria, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are likely to enter ocean waters though these outlets," they said.

It rains and all of the sudden there are crashes everywhere. In fact, there were 186 between midnight and earlier this morning. All this ridiculousness means fodder for comedians and the like, and, no doubt, a couple humorous ones surfaced yesterday on local blogs. Above, via Curbed LA, Conan O'Brien teases his new home and below, via the LA Now and LA Observed, a mock movie trailer for yet another Los Angeles disaster flick.

Whenever it rains in Los Angeles, it exemplifies how we are all connected, whether living in the Valley or at the beach. "The county’s 2,800-mile storm drain system is designed to channel rainwater to the ocean to prevent local flooding," explains officials from the nonprofit Heal the Bay. "But it also has the unintended function of moving pollution directly into the Santa Monica and San Pedro bays following rainstorms."

Weather Underground has a pretty sweet Google Map mash-up with live graphics showing the current weather pattern over California (or zoom in on whatever city you want). As of right now there are some isolated patches of rain over Los Angeles County (map). The majority of rain in the county is expected tonight when flash flood watches go into effect.

It's rare that we hear thunder out here, so it could be a nice change as long as lightening strikes do not start fires. The National Weather Service is reporting the possibility of thunderstorms in Southern California beginning this afternoon: "The threat of thunderstorm activity will begin this afternoon across the mountains and Antelope Valley. As upper level disturbances rotate across the region, the threat of showers and thunderstorms will spread to the entire region by tonight, continuing through Sunday." If it does rain in Los Angeles, it will likely happen on Saturday. The Service says dry lightning strikes are possible, which is prompting some fire concerns. We should also could be experiencing some extreme highs and lows along with increased humidity.

There hasn't been much rain these days, but that's not stopping the city from trying to maximize the usefulness of rain when it comes. A new rain water harvesting pilot project will start in Mar Vista and a nearby neighborhood in mid July, thanks to a $1 million grant. Gray water, as it's called, is one part of greening ones property and is often used for water gardens and lawns. The project's goal is to enlist 600 properties--whether they be residential or commercial--to take part in the program. Those who take part might receive a free rain barrel (usually costs $200) or have experts re-route gutter downspouts off impermeable surfaces like sidewalks and onto permeable ones like gardens. All the details are not set yet, but more are to come in next month.

Now in its third drought year, Southern California could be facing another if a developing El Nino off the coast of South America comes August with not much force. "El Nino is El Wimpo," said Bill Patzert, climatologist for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge to the Daily News. "He's late. He's stunted. He's definitely not the great wet hope." For the last year, downtown LA has received 9.08 inches of rain, six inches below normal. Not good, but better than the 3.21 inches it saw the year previous. Because of that many cities have enacted water rationing ordinances. And this year could be no different as some climatologists are predicting another dry winter.

There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the Southern California mountains today with rain, wind and lighting possibly hitting other parts of the region late this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Temperature wise, the direct Los Angeles area will be in the 60s and low 70s with lows in the 50s and 60s, depending on where you're located. Over the weekend, expect more of the same with patchy drizzle. Sorry, no beach weather yet, but summer isn't officially until the end of next week!

We're experiencing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms today with a 40% chance for it to continue tonight, according to the National Weather Service. Tomorrow only holds a 20% of rain with Sunday expected to be partly cloudy. Temperatures should remain in the 60s for the most part throughout the weekend with some areas hitting the low 70s this afternoon.

There's a 20% chance we get rain today and tomorrow as this system hangs around for a couple more days. "It's kind of unusual to get stuff coming in from the Pacific Ocean as far as rain goes this late in the year," said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist for the National Weather Service, told the Pasadena Star News. That said, most areas received just one-tenth of an inch, but enjoyed a the novelty of a little thunder.

That's the what the National Weather Service is predicting for mostly the Antelope and Cuyama Valleys with the possibility of them heading towards the Valley and Los Angeles basin by late this afternoon or later tonight. We like thunder so we hope it does end up heading our way. From the beaches to the Valley, temperatures are in the 60s today with cloudy skies overhead. As you head up into Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, you're in the 70s and 80s, respectively.

We're still looking at a slight chance of showers until midnight. After that, expect partly cloudy skies and some wind throughout the weekend. Day time highs will range from the 60s to low 70s along the coasts and into the valleys, according to the National Weather Service. And because Palm Springs will be crazy with The White Party all weekend long, here's what's going on there: slight chances of rain mixed in with thunderstorms today with 20% for showers tomorrow. Daytime highs will be in the 70s.

Showers are predicted for tonight and into tomorrow morning, but they probably won't be big rain producers, according to the National Weather Service. Tomorrow and Thursday are expected to be dry until Friday when a larger storm could bring more rain during the day. The weekend is expected to be dry. Temperatures will bounce between the upper and lower sixties throughout the week.

The main band of the rainstorm has already come through the Los Angeles area, but there's a lighter secondary one in Ventura County right now and it could sweep down into the city, according to Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service. Otherwise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies through tomorrow night when a weak front is expected to hit through Friday morning. Then more cool, but dry weather throughout the weekend with only a slight chance of rain.

Following up on a spectacular weekend of great weather, we're getting tiny bit of the much needed rain--about a tenth of an inch according to the National Weather Service--but it won't be enough to help the current drought. Tomorrow and Wednesday is expected to be partly cloudy with a 30% chance of rain. As for the rest of the week into the weekend, there's a slight chance for more rain but that's "a little unsettled right now," said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist with the Service. Stay tuned...

Expect clouds to cover the Los Angeles area with only a slight chance of rain for the rest of the weekend. "Los Angeles County will be spared of the heaviest rain," explained Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Westher Service in Oxnard, over the phone. And if we do get rain--20% on Sunday, 30% on Monday--it won't be much. "Most of the rain in this system will stay in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties," Sirard said. Temperatures will be in the low 60s to low 70s.

The nice weather we've been getting will continue through today and Saturday and hopefully Sunday. "We're kinda in between storms," explained Jamie Meier of the National Weather Service. That rain could possibly hit Los Angeles by Sunday, but it's more likely the Oscars will be kept dry and rain will come later. And when it does Meier says that "all areas should at least get what." Expect temperatures in the 70s--as high as 78--today and tomorrow from the beach to the valleys.

The heavier showers that poured over Los Angeles this morning have moved on to the Eastern part of Los Angeles County. A group of scattered showers should hit the area in a few hours and could douse the city sporadically throughout the day. Around 7 a.m. this morning there was a cloud to ground lightening strike, said Stuart Seto, a Weather Specialist from the National Weather Service. Later tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of rain and tomorrow should be mostly sunny. The snow level currently sits around 3500 feet with new snow precipitation at 4000 feet.

It's not the nicest way to wake up on what is a holiday for many: A large tree fell over during the rainstorm this morning in Laurel Canyon, "knocking down three power poles, blocking Wonderland Avenue and interrupting electricity to about 1,700 customers," according to the Daily News.

The storm we were anticipating showed up early this morning, and is dumping rain and snow on Southern California.

The weather gods spared our weekend, but come tonight, the dry spell is over (and no, that's not a post-Valentine's Day nookie reference). We're talking rain, and lots of it.

The much needed rain for bitch-thirsty California is a good thing, but it has its consequences. Shortly before 5 p.m., the California Highway Patrol was reporting 57 incidents in LA County, which is higher than usual for even Friday at rush hour. A lot of the crashes are injury collisions with "rain as a contributing factor," one officer told us.

After a short break from last week's storms, the Los Angeles region tomorrow could be soaked in the first of two weekend storms expected to quench some of the regions' thirst. "We're looking at two back-to-back systems," explained Meteorologist Eric Boldt at the National Weather Service. "One is coming in Friday afternoon or evening to the Los Angeles area and will go into Saturday morning." That storm could bring an inch or more and then on Sunday, a larger storm is expected to hit. "It will probably be double the amount of rainfall," Boldt said. As for snow levels, the first storm will bring snow up to the 3,500 foot elevation level. The second storm could bring one to three feet of snow to 5,000 feet.

It's finally starting to feel like a (Southern California) winter. As for this weekend and today: "Snow levels were expected to drop to 3,500 feet as up to 9 inches of snow falls over the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, along with rain at lower elevations and gusty winds. The storm was expected to leave the area sometime after midnight, with another storm expected by next weekend," finds the LA Times.

The storm that soaked Southern California yesterday brought soggy hillsides down in some areas, and more rain is on the way today. The mud came sliding down in two separate locations in Sylmar last night, and a third mudslide was reported in Sierra Madre.

Drivers, take note of this important closure that could affect your drive around Los Angeles International Airport: "CalTrans Traffic Management has notified LAX operations that the eastbound I-105 on-ramp from southbound Sepulveda Blvd. will be closed all weekend due to the possibility of intermittent rain. This may delay motorists exiting the LAX Central Terminal Area." They say Angelenos don't know how to drive in the rain, so is just not letting them drive in certain places the solution?

The Department of Water and Power knows there are plenty of people using sprinklers while it's raining. "Under the city's Water Conservation Ordinance, it is illegal to water outdoors when it's raining," they said in an e-mail out to press. "Violators are subject to citation and fines under the municipal code." This is especially important this year due to drought conditions and a 50% less snow pack than usual. If you want to tattle on a water waster, call 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397) 24 hours a day or send an e-mail to the water conservation team at waterconservationteam@ladwp.com.

We've had nine straight days of temperatures above 80 degrees but we'll get a colder front through at least Monday. Today's weather could hit the high 70s and rainstorms could begin starting tomorrow. "L.A. is about an inch below normal for rain for this time of year," found the LA Times. "It is a bad sign when January, normally one of the year's wettest months, is so dry. It's also been three degrees warmer than usual..." Southern California is experiencing La Niña, which brings us drier conditions as the Pacific Northwest and northeast experience lower than usual temperatures and more rain.