Southern Californians will see another round of rain and snow starting Wednesday, but precipitation totals are expected to remain low in most areas, resulting in little disruption.
The biggest threat from the system is unpredictable thunderstorms, which could bring heavy rain and flash flooding Wednesday afternoon and evening to some communities along the coast and valleys, according to Rose Schoenfeld, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard.
“In thunderstorms, rain rates can reach up to an inch per hour — heavy rain,” Schoenfeld said. She added that this would be isolated to a limited number of areas, but it was not clear exactly where or when the storms would hit.
Widespread rain is expected from Santa Barbara through San Diego as a cold low pressure system moves in from coastal waters off Point Conception early Wednesday and makes its way southeast over the next 48 hours. Rainfall totals will likely remain below an inch, with the highest amounts arriving wherever a thunderstorm cell forms.
“Rainfall totals will range anywhere from a quarter [of an inch] Up to an inch of rain, said Mark Moyde, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. “One hundred percent of the area will see some rain. It's just a question of how much.”
Rainfall amounts continue to range from 0.25 to 0.75 inches with localized amounts of up to 1-2 inches across the foothills and mountain ridges. The highest amounts should occur south of Point Conception. Snow levels could locally drop as low as 4,000-4,500 feet early Thursday. #CAwx #LARain pic.twitter.com/WHh8SbDWda
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In the mountains, officials expect significant snowfall from the storm: up to 8 inches on the highest peaks in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and up to 6 inches in the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
A winter weather warning has been issued across the mountains of Southern California and will remain in effect Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. In the mountains of Ventura, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in Los Angeles, snow may be possible as high as 4,500 feet, and at higher elevations — including corridors of Interstate 5 and Interstate 14 — the National Weather Service warned that “travel may be “Difficult.” impossible.”
The rain is expected to end by late Wednesday in Los Angeles County, but could continue into Thursday further south, while mountain snow will diminish by Thursday afternoon, Schoenfeld said.
“We are seeing a dry period from Friday to Sunday, just in time for daylight saving time,” Moody said.
However, a high surf warning will remain in effect Thursday and Friday along Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches, where dangerous rip currents are expected and waves could reach 11 feet, according to the National Weather Service.