A pair of storms headed for the Southland today, threatening to generate rainfall from tonight through Wednesday, National Weather Service forecasters said.
The two weather systems will cause high surf and strong rip currents, they said, and a high surf advisory will be in effect along the L.A. County Coast from 3 this afternoon until 3 Wednesday afternoon.
The first and weaker storm will spread rain across the Central Coast late this afternoon. It’s expected to generate south winds with gusts of up to 40 mph in the mountains and gusts of up to to 35 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, according to an NWS statement. Snow levels, meanwhile, will remain near or above 6,000 feet.
The second, “somewhat stronger” storm will arrive Tuesday into Tuesday night and persist through Wednesday, according to the NWS. It is expected to produce between a half-inch and an inch of rain in coastal and valley areas, and between one and two inches in the mountains and foothills, the statement said.
“There will also be lower snow levels, and isolated thunderstorms over much of the land area,” it said.
Snow level will fall to around 5,000 feet by Tuesday night, though snowfall at even lower levels is possible, according to the NWS, and showers are expected to continue through Wednesday afternoon.
“Potential impacts will include slick roadways with localized ponding of water possible in low-lying urban areas, winter driving conditions on mountain roads and possible snowfall on the higher elevations of the Grapevine Tuesday night into Wednesday,” the statement said, adding that “minor debris flows will be possible in and near burn areas…”
The second storm may produce heavy rainfall in some areas and isolated thunderstorms, according to the NWS. It will lower the snow level to around 5,500 feet by early Wednesday.
The NWS forecast highs today of 52 on Mount Wilson; 55 in Lancaster; 56 in Palmdale; 59 in Saugus; 62 in San Gabriel; 63 in San Clemente, Pasadena, Woodland Hills and Mission Viejo; 64 in Burbank, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Yorba Linda; 65 at LAX and in Irvine and Avalon and Fullerton; and 66 in downtown L-A and Long Beach.
