A pair of winter storm systems are expected to bring rain and a little snow to some areas of Southern California Friday through Sunday, forecasters said.
National Weather Service meteorologists in Los Angeles said Thursday, December 1, that the storm would bring “widespread showers to the area, with a chance of mountain snow at resort levels.”
The Giant Wheel sits above the Irvine Spectrum Center as clouds pass by in Irvine, CA on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dark clouds hang over downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cloudy days are here in Southern California over the weekend with high temperatures in the 60s with a chance of rain Sunday as a man walks on Signal Hill on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors to Knott’s Berry Farm ride the Silver Bullet under cloudy skies in Buena Park, CA, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The horizon was crisp and temperatures cool by California standards with rain forecast in Long Beach on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Visitors to Knott’s Berry Farm ride HangTime under cloudy skies in Buena Park, CA, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dark clouds hang over downtown Los Angeles from the 6th St. Overpass on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cloudy days are here in Southern California over the weekend with high temperatures in the 60s with a chance of rain Sunday as a man sits on Signal Hill Thursday, December 1, 2022. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Winter rain clouds fill the skies as jets take off from Van Nuys Airport on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Rain is forecast for the next few days through the weekend. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
Winter rain clouds fill the skies as jets take off from Van Nuys Airport on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Rain is forecast for the next few days through the weekend. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
Winter rain clouds fill the skies as jets take off from Van Nuys Airport on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Rain is forecast for the next few days through the weekend. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
The storm is expected to hit Santa Barbara County the hardest, with communities there likely to see 3 to 6 inches of rain over the next three days.
In Ventura and Los Angeles counties, however, rainfall totals are expected to be lower: Both counties could see about an inch of rain, though totals in mountainous areas could be higher.
Further south and east, Orange County and the Inland Empire are expected to see very little rain, just a tenth of an inch to a fifth of an inch, and even lower rainfall totals in the high desert.
“The first wave of a two-pronged system is hitting (San Luis Obispo) County this afternoon and is taking advantage of some warmer subtropical air bringing light to moderate rain,” NWS bureau meteorologists wrote Thursday. in Los Angeles. “This will slide down the coast overnight and bring rain to most areas by Friday morning.”
Snow levels are expected to be light: Mountainous areas at 7,000 feet elevation will receive a light dusting first, with some snow falling at around 6,000 feet. But the main mountain trails likely won’t get much snow, according to the NWS. However, they warned that there will be winter conditions that will make the roads wet and slippery.
“With stronger rainbands, there could be rockfall on mountain roads,” they wrote. “Allow extra driving time due to wet and slippery roads and allow extra time for your trip.”
