Topline:
Before this latest storm, we were about two inches below normal in terms of rain, but we should be caught up by this weekend. The rainy season delay is normal.
El Niño influence: El Niño influences storm tracks and increases the amount of moisture in the atmosphere, but it doesn’t guarantee a wet winter here in Southern California. It can increase the odds.
Snowpack: More concerning is our snowpack, which is only at 35% of normal for mid-December.
Rainy season: Remember, it runs until April so we have plenty of time to catch up.
Even though we’re solidly in our rainy season, prior to this latest storm, things were looking dry — about 2 inches below normal in downtown L.A.
However, by the end of the week, we should be caught up, as 2 to 3 inches are expected to fall on the city, while as much as 8 inches of rain could blanket the mountains.
El Niño
It's tough to say with certainty how any one individual storm is impacted by the presence of El Niño.
Here in Southern California we tend to see the climate pattern influence weather starting some time in late fall, but as we’ve talked about before, it doesn’t guarantee a wet winter.
Snowfall
Snowfall in our mountains is a bigger concern than local rainfall totals, as we rely on snowmelt for much of our water. Currently, we're only at 35% of normal across the Sierra, and 85% of normal in the Colorado River Basin.
Our reservoirs are still looking pretty good.
Christmas weather
You’ll get to enjoy a dry Christmas eve and day, as this latest storm should wrap up by Saturday.
Another storm may show up mid to late next week.
