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Rain Is Invading Los Angeles County, And 'Monsoonal Moisture' Is To Blame
(Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
Thursday's forecast in Los Angeles County includes heat, humidity and... RAIN?!?!
Light rain fell over much of the county Thursday morning eliciting surprise, confusion and questions from Angelenos. More rain is expected this afternoon.
Here's what's going on.
The weather hovering over Los Angeles County is the result of a high pressure system to our east, bringing "warm, moist air from Mexico into our area" -- also known by its more ominous moniker as "monsoonal moisture," said John Dumas, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
Plus, it's been pretty hot this week. So when the warm air rises, it means "clouds, instability and moisture," Dumas said. You can also blame the "monsoonal moisture" for the weirdly warm temperatures lingering into the evening.
Though the light rain this morning was unexpected, the greatest precipitation threat is expected to happen in the afternoon, Dumas said. There might even be THUNDER.
As of 12:50 p.m. Thursday, there are no related flash flood warnings or advisories in effect.
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Those in cities near eastern San Gabriel Mountains should expect the highest chance of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. But Dumas emphasizes that everyone should stay alert. Beach goers should listen to lifeguards, who will be watching out for lightning. And drivers who can't see the road surface under water should not try to drive through it.
Some good news: this seemingly dystopian, freakout-inducing weather is expected to clear by Friday morning, and chances for precipitation will diminish just in time for the weekend -- but expect the heat to stay through at least Monday.
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