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What does a weak La Niña mean for rain in SoCal?
View of the DTLA skyline from a residential street in Chinatown.
(
Alborz Kamalizad
/
LAist
)
Back in the spring it was looking like a strong La Niña might shape up come late fall, but since then the odds have decreased quite a bit, as waters along the equatorial Pacific didn’t get as cool as anticipated and westerly trade winds failed to organize.
We pay close attention to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, especially here in California, as it can affect our weather. La Niña is often associated with drier conditions in the southern half of the state.
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The utility company denies the allegation, saying it’s too soon to enter into mediation when investigations into the cause of the Eaton Fire are not yet complete. -
As much as 8 inches of rain could fall on some areas of Southern California, raising the risk of debris flows. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called for a full investigation in October, following Los Angeles Times reporting that found firefighters were told to leave Lachman Fire burn site before it was out.
Now that neutral or close to neutral conditions are likely, there’s no large-scale atmospheric driver connected to the tropical Pacific that we can use to try and bolster our guesses about how things might trend.
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However, there’s another anomaly off the coast that could have an influence: a marine heat wave.
There's a blob of warm water off the coast of California that could help juice storms as they pass over.
(
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
)
Off the northwest coast of California, waters are about 1 to 1.5 degrees celsius above normal. And it’s possible that as storms pass over the blob, the additional moisture evaporating from the ocean into the atmosphere could feed the storms and increase the amount of rain that falls.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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