Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Light Rain And Snow Coming To SoCal In The Next Few Days
A person walks along Ballona Creek as storm water runoff from a winter rain storm flows into the Pacific Ocean in Marina Del Rey on March 14, 2023.
(
Patrick T. Fallon
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Enjoy the break in the clouds while it lasts.
Another cold storm system from the Gulf of Alaska is making its way to Southern California, this time bringing lighter rain and notable snow totals.
This storm will bring two rounds of precipitation, with the first round starting Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. Ventura County could see rain as early as this evening.
The first round will bring light to moderate showers into late Wednesday morning. There will be a break in between rounds for most of Wednesday afternoon, with the heavier rainfall picking up in the evening.
Support for LAist comes from
There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms starting Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. During that time, the rain could come down in heavy spurts and produce pea-sized hail, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Elizabeth Adams.
It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is 😴💤! Here is our latest forecast for rainfall timing and intensity. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday. pic.twitter.com/FYiq07REmD
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 28, 2023
What about the snow?
The San Bernardino Mountains will see snowfall Tuesday night at the 5,000-foot level and will continue to rise as the precipitation develops. There's a winter storm watch in effect for that area. Adams warns of blanket-like conditions starting Wednesday evening as wind gusts are expected to reach up to 65 mph.
"The strong winds combined with the snowfall could lead to some difficult traveling conditions, some lowing and drifting snow and potentially some periods of white out conditions," Adams said. "So make sure that you're exercising caution when traveling through the mountain."
Above 5,000 feet, anywhere between 6 to 10 inches of snowfall is expected. The mountain peaks could see up to a foot or more of snow. Temperatures are going to plummet significantly, reaching up to mid 50s for most of SoCal.
Support for LAist comes from
Looking ahead to Thursday morning, snow levels could reach as low as 3,000 to 4,500 feet. That could bring up to an inch of snow over major mountain passes like the Grapevine.
But the greater accumulation of snow will remain above 5,000 feet. Showers will linger into Thursday afternoon. The storm is expected to clear out by Thursday evening.
So far, last week's storm has produced some notable damaging results, from a pair of tornadoes touching L.A. and Santa Barbara counties to a collapsed hillside in Pacific Palisades.
How to stay safe in high winds
Safety tips from Southern California Edison
-
- Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
- Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they may pose a significant fire hazard.
- If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away.
- Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.
- Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
- If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
- Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
- Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.
Tips to keep your heating bills down
Tips
-
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. — Caitlin Hernández
-
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
-
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
-
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
-
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.
Support for LAist comes from
Additional storm resources
YOUR GUIDE TO LA RAIN
-
Here's what you need to know when storms hit Southern California:
-
- Tips To Stay Prepared For The Next LA Storm
- Mudslides Can Be Dangerous And Destructive. This Is How You Can Prepare
- Storms Can Bring Lots Of Water — But Much Of It Winds Up In The Ocean
- Your Guide To Driving Safely In The Rain In LA (And Really Anywhere)
- How LA County Prepares For Massive Rainfall — Like The Storm Hitting Us Now
- Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know
- Why Atmospheric Rivers Can Be A Blessing And A Curse
Updated March 28, 2023 at 8:44 AM PDT
This story was updated with the latest details on the storm forecast.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist