Checking In On The Atmospheric River Coming To SoCal This Week

An atmospheric river looks to be heading straight for Southern California next week, potentially bringing heavy rain, snow and winds to the L.A. region.

Before the storm

Temperatures will be quite warm until the middle of next week, with possible record high temperatures in the 70s.

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What we know now

• Steady and constant rain is expected Thursday and Friday and could stretch into next weekend.
• It's likely going to be a cold storm, meaning snow could be falling at Big Bear and other mountainous areas at around 4,500 feet, said National Weather Service meteorologist Casey Oswant. "Looking like it's going to be a colder storm than what we've seen so far this winter, that does mean we are going to see more snow impact from this round of rain," she said.
• Gusty winds are expected from the coast to the desert communities, Oswant said. The heaviest of which are expected on Thursday and Friday.

The models

We’re still a bit far out—the Weather Service says that concrete details, like rain speed and rain total, won't be confirmed until in a day or two.

According to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, there are clear signs that El Niño is influencing the region's recent weather. The storms could continue into mid-February.

Statewide forecast

The Southland won't be the only area dealing with heavy storm activity. Heavy flooding is expected in British Columbia, Washington state, and even down down in Baja California.