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Atmospheric river brings ‘strongest storm of the season’ to SoCal this week
A man places sandbags outside his house to prevent flooding during a winter storm
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Mark Ralston
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AFP via Getty Images
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A storm last week dropped a few inches of rain across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. This time, the impact could be more severe.
“We're likely looking at the strongest storm of the season,” says Kristan Lund, meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
Heavy rainfall in the region could begin as early as Wednesday morning. The storm will likely linger through Valentine’s Day, with a possibility for thunderstorms later in the week.
The San Gabriel Mountains will likely see the heaviest levels of rain and mountain snow, Lund says, adding that floods and debris flow are significant risks in burn scars in Altadena and the Palisades.
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Up to 2 inches of rain are expected between Wednesday and Friday, with up to 4 inches in mountains and foothills. There's a 30% chance those amounts may double, according to the National Weather Service.
A chart depict rainfall predictions for Wednesday, February 12, through Friday, February 14
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National Weather Service
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Cold overnight temperatures will approach freezing in some areas through Tuesday, with lows in the 30s and 40s throughout Ventura and L.A. counties.
Lund says this storm may bring increased risks for hypothermia, especially for the unhoused population in those coldest areas. Winter shelters managed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority are open, however a representative confirmed that there are currently no availabilities. Those seeking winter shelter are advised to call for daily changes in availability.
End of fire season?
Today through Tuesday will be windy and dry — with gusts up to 45 miles per hour in wind-prone areas — according to the National Weather Service report, which also warns of the possibility of downed trees and power outages.
But there’s a low risk of fire thanks to last week’s rainfall, says Lund.
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This week’s anticipated storm, combined with rainfall last week, “may be enough to switch to low fire season,” Lund says. For now, she says, we’ll just have to wait and see as the storm develops over the Pacific.
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