Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flash floods kill 2 in New Jersey, strand subway riders in NYC Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm soaks Florida, could strengthen in Gulf before targeting Louisiana Chevron right

Columbus, OH

90°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

90°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
Air Quality Alert

Weather Blogs / Western US weather

Big Changes and at Least Some Rain

By Staff

Published Jan 23, 2013 2:30 PM EDT | Updated Jan 24, 2013 8:52 AM EDT

Copied

On Monday, I showed dramatic differences in the models for late this week and weekend in California. One model was pretty dry and the other was very, very wet. So how are things looking now two days later?

Neither of Monday's models are going to end up right. In reality, something in between is most likely to occur, but even today there are differences on how much rain will fall and when.

We still have two main features in the rather short-term. A northern branch progressive trough just off the Northwest coast and to west of northern California that is moving east. In the south, we have a closed low siting around 25N and 129W that is nudging a little to the east right now.

While the northern branch system will not DIRECTLY impact the weather except in northern California, it will serve one purpose. That is to continue to bring copious moisture from the southern latitudes northeast and across the rest of the state into tomorrow. Precipitable water (the measure of how moist the whole column of air is in inches) is 1.00 to 1.50 inches to the west and south with this moist plume right now.

The air mass is very dry still in the low levels from all the warm, offshore flow of late, but showers have been occurring all day just offshore though they certainly are still only falling aloft from central California on south. However, it looks like one piece of energy breaks off from this southern low and moves toward south-central and Southern California tonight into tomorrow. While it may take a little time to moisten up the whole column of air, a few scattered showers seem likely at some point tonight into tomorrow. Most models have the greatest threat sometime later tonight into tomorrow morning. Rain in the north tonight will taper off and end tomorrow. There very well may be a time later tomorrow into tomorrow night it does not do a lot, but I can't sit here and say there can't be a shower or two around.

Friday into Saturday, the low latitude low will get kicked east and northeast as another northern branch trough starts to develop and head south off the Northwest coast. This is likely to bring some rain to Southern California and maybe a little rain to portions of the central part of the state. However, models disagree quite a bit on amounts. In fact, the European model takes the low so far south, it brings NO rain to central and much of Southern California. I don’t like that solution right now because of all the moisture that is present ahead of the low. I think southern sections at least pick up 0.25 to 0.50 of an inch (with the caveat that the GFS is bringing over 1.00 inch). Less rain seems likely in central portions of the state. Snow levels in the south will remain high, above 8,000 feet.

After this goes east, another big change will take place as a colder trough drops down from the north. This can bring showers Sunday and Monday to just about anywhere and noticeably lower temperatures and snow levels. Snow levels by Monday could be down to 3,500 feet in the Sierra and 4,500 feet in the south. More on that later this week.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Inside the grueling recovery effort after Texas’ deadly flood

Jul. 15, 2025
Severe Weather

Flash flooding swamps Northeast metro areas as extreme rain threatens ...

Jul. 15, 2025
Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

Jul. 15, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 14, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

ABOUT THIS BLOG
Western US weather
Brian Thompson
The Western US Weather blog provides regular updates and analysis on western U.S. weather.
  • Astronomy
    with Dave Samuhel
  • Canadian weather
    with Brett Anderson
  • Global climate change
    with Brett Anderson
  • Global weather
    with Jason Nicholls
  • Northeast US weather
    with Elliot Abrams
  • Plume Labs on Air Quality
    with Tyler Knowlton
  • RealImpact of weather
    with Dr. Joel N. Myers
  • WeatherMatrix
    with Jesse Ferrell
  • Western US weather
    with Brian Thompson

Featured Stories

Astronomy

Noctilucent clouds shimmer in summer sky

1 day ago

Recreation

Yellowstone’s landscape shifts again with discovery of new hot pool

1 day ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

4 days ago

Weather News

Giant shoes found spark mystery around the soldiers of ancient Rome

1 day ago

Weather News

It’s not just humans – chimpanzees also like to follow trends

1 day ago

AccuWeather Weather Blogs Big Changes and at Least Some Rain
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...