SoCal Is In For Another Round Of April Showers. Here's What To Expect

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Southern California's wet spring is about to get a little wetter, as yet another storm brings even more precipitation and gusty winds to the region, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

But you may still be able to go ahead with your weekend plans, as the rain is expected to be scattered and relatively light: less than half an inch in some parts of Orange County, with up to 1.5 inches possible in the coastal valleys.

Projected rainfall totals

Rainfall is expected to be light but still significant in some areas, with higher totals expected in Santa Barbara, Ventura and western Los Angeles Counties compared to the rest of the region.

Projected rainfall totals for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

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Courtesy National Weather Service

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Moderate rain is expected both Saturday and Sunday, with some light rainfall possible Monday morning.

"We basically have two distinct little blobs of moisture," National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Bruno said. "One moving through this afternoon, and we could have a few showers out ahead of that, but the main steady rain would be from noon or so till six o'clock or seven o'clock. Then a break tonight, early tomorrow morning, then showers and maybe a slight chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon into evening."

In the coastal and valley regions, total rainfall across the weekend is expected to be between 0.5 and 1.5 inches, while as much as 3 inches is possible in the mountains and foothills.

Projected rainfall totals for Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

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Courtesy National Weather Service

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Here are the National Weather Service's projections as of Friday afternoon:

• Downtown LA: 0.54"
• Long Beach: 0.39"
• Lancaster: 0.27"
• Santa Clarita: 0.98"
• Santa Barbara: 1.44"

The mountains will likely see a few inches of snow in elevations above 4,000-5,000 feet. Two to five inches are possible in most areas, with the potential for up to 10 inches on higher peaks. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains from Saturday until Sunday evening.

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Courtesy National Weather Service

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Forecast

The NWS projects that wind gusts of up to 50 mph are likely both Saturday and Sunday. Exercise caution if it gets gusty, as there could be the potential of dangerous crosswinds.

There's also a 10-20% chance of thunderstorms accompanying the rain. Tornadoes and severe are unlikely, but the NWS hasn't written off the possibility entirely.

Traffic conditions

So far, no evacuations or road closures have been announced due to this weekend's rain. Delays are possible in the Tejon Pass, which has a 20% chance of seeing up to an inch of snowfall this weekend. Winter driving conditions are expected in higher elevations as the snow level lowers to 4,000 to 5,000 feet.

Canyon roads may also see mudslides or rockslides, especially in areas where land movement has previously occurred.

Road conditions can change quickly, so keep an eye on emergency alerts from local emergency agencies.

Understanding National Weather Service warnings

Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:

• Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
• Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
• A flood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
• A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.

Read more: Flash Flood Warnings? Watches? Here’s What You Need To Know

Tips for driving in the rain

Advice on driving in the rain:

• Check weather and road conditions all along your planned route.
• Slow down.
• Keep a wider-than-usual distance between your vehicle and the one in front.
• Don't drive through standing water — as little as 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and two feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.
• Make sure tires are fully inflated.
• Check windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary.

Read more: What You Should Do If You End Up Driving In A Flooded Area

Downed tree, power line or flooded road?

Dial 911 if it's an emergency.

However, if you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:

• L.A. City: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
• L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
• Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
• Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here.

If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags you can find some at local fire houses.

Staying safe when the winds are high

• 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 on staying warm

• 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.
  

Sign up for emergency alerts

• L.A. City: Notify L.A.
• L.A. County: Ready L.A. County
• Ventura County: Ready Ventura County
• Orange County: AlertOC
• Riverside County: AlertRivCo

How we're reporting on this

This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.

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