As one storm moves out of Southern California, two more are moving in
LOS ANGELES — This week’s storm, which drew added moisture from an atmospheric river out of Hawaii, doused L.A. County valley areas early Thursday but is on its way out of the region, forecasters said.
“After the spectacular lightning show early Wednesday morning and the periods of heavy rain that lingered into Wednesday afternoon, the weather across Southwestern California has quieted down quite a bit in most areas,” noted an NWS statement.
Rainfall totals from this week’s storm generally averaged 0.75 to 1.75 inches of rain in coastal areas, 2 to 3.5 inches in the foothills and mountains, and 0.50 inches to 1 inch in the Antelope Valley, according to the statement. Through 7.30 p.m. Wednesday, the highest total was at Opids Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains with 4.12 inches, followed by 3.69 inches at San Antonio Dam in San Bernardino County.
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A weak storm system was expected to strike the region Thursday night and produce scattered showers, which could affect the Friday morning commute, although there is no guarantee that will take place, Rorke said. But it will lower the snow level to 4,000 feet.
“Low elevation snow is possible Sunday and Sunday night, impacting major mountain passes,” according to the statement.
The area should dry out late Friday but another storm system will bring a chance for rain on Sunday and Monday, an NWS statement said.
Temperatures, meanwhile, were running around 10 degrees below normal, said National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Rorke. He noted that temperatures have not reached 70 degrees in downtown L.A. for 36 days, with another seven days of the same expected, which will create the fifth longest such streak.
The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in LA County Thursday and highs of 43 degrees on Mount Wilson; 55 in Avalon; 56 in Palmdale; 57 in Lancaster; 58 in Santa Clarita; 61 in Burbank, Northridge, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills and at LAX; 62 in downtown LA, San Pedro, Torrance, North Hollywood, Pasadena, San Gabriel and Long Beach; and 63 in West Covina and Whittier.
A combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies was forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 41 on Santiago Peak; 52 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 57 in Fremont Canyon; 58 in Trabuco Canyon and in Laguna Beach; 59 in San Clemente; 60 in Newport Beach and Yorba Linda; 61 in Mission Viejo; 62 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine; and 63 in Santa Ana.