Slow-moving storm brings much-needed rain to Southern California
By
Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 8, 2020 1:03 PM EDT
In the wake of a storm that brought the first measurable rainfall to parts California in over a month, a second storm and much more efficient rain-producer will affect Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona into Thursday.
"While the new storm will cause some trouble in terms of flash flooding, mudslides, severe thunderstorms and a major hassle for motorists, the storm will be very beneficial for drought and wildfire concerns," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Rain dampens Southern California on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AccuWeather)
The first storm generally targeted the northern half of California with periods of light rain observed on Saturday.
However, it was not enough to put a noticeable dent in the expanding drought conditions, with only 0.08 of an inch of rainfall recorded at San Francisco International Airport.
After the first storm only brought a few isolated showers to Southern California, the second storm with much more moisture will track farther south.
As of 12 a.m. PDT Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Oceanside, California, had received 1.10 inches of rain from the new storm with 1.28 inches falling well inland at Palm Springs, California. The San Diego area had received approximately 0.49 of an inch of rain thus far from the storm.
The steadiest and heaviest rain will fall over the southern third of California, the southern tip of Nevada and much of Arizona.
While showers will become more isolated, the rain will continue to make for a wet commute in and around the Los Angeles and San Diego areas through Wednesday.
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A few embedded gusty thunderstorms may also track into the Los Angeles Basin, bringing along a risk for flash flooding as the day progresses.
"Downpours will cause water to collect in poor drainage areas of urban locations, while normally dry streams and storm water basins can become raging torrents," Sosnowski said.
"Motorists are reminded to never attempt to drive through flooded roads as the road may have been washed away and the force of the flowing water could carry your vehicle downstream," Sosnowski added.
The ground across Southern California and the rest of the Southwest is drier than normal, so flooding will not initially be a concern. However, embedded thunderstorms with the capability of producing rainfall rates in excess of a half inch per hour could create flooding issues, especially in hilly neighborhoods.
There may be the potential for waterspouts to spin onshore in any of the embedded thunderstorms.
Fog may shroud the ridges and passes at times as well.
Moisture from the Pacific Ocean will continue to pump into Southern California and gradually expand eastward into the Desert Southwest through Thursday night.
Little to no rain is likely to fall on San Francisco, Sacramento and points farther to the north from the storm.
A general 1-3 inches of rainfall is expected across much of Southern California and the Desert Southwest. A few spots in the higher elevations could receive up to 5 inches of rain through the middle part of the week.
Eastward progression of the storm is expected to be very slow through the middle of the week, with many Desert Southwest locales facing the threat of moderate-to-heavy rainfall through Thursday.
Rainfall will likely become more scattered in nature across Southern California as drier air rotates in on Wednesday.
Steadier rain and thunderstorms will then focus on Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, as well as much of the Interstate 10, 25 and 40 corridors over the interior Southwest from Wednesday through Thursday night.
"The rain falling on desert locations is likely to bring a burst of color across the region as flowers grow and blossom in the coming weeks," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller.
Any isolated shower activity remaining across the Golden State will likely come to an end by Thursday night as the storm tracks eastward.
On Friday, the storm will focus locally heavy rain on parts of the southern Plains.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather Forecasts
Slow-moving storm brings much-needed rain to Southern California
By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Mar 8, 2020 1:03 PM EDT
In the wake of a storm that brought the first measurable rainfall to parts California in over a month, a second storm and much more efficient rain-producer will affect Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona into Thursday.
"While the new storm will cause some trouble in terms of flash flooding, mudslides, severe thunderstorms and a major hassle for motorists, the storm will be very beneficial for drought and wildfire concerns," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Rain dampens Southern California on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AccuWeather)
The first storm generally targeted the northern half of California with periods of light rain observed on Saturday.
However, it was not enough to put a noticeable dent in the expanding drought conditions, with only 0.08 of an inch of rainfall recorded at San Francisco International Airport.
After the first storm only brought a few isolated showers to Southern California, the second storm with much more moisture will track farther south.
As of 12 a.m. PDT Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Oceanside, California, had received 1.10 inches of rain from the new storm with 1.28 inches falling well inland at Palm Springs, California. The San Diego area had received approximately 0.49 of an inch of rain thus far from the storm.
The steadiest and heaviest rain will fall over the southern third of California, the southern tip of Nevada and much of Arizona.
While showers will become more isolated, the rain will continue to make for a wet commute in and around the Los Angeles and San Diego areas through Wednesday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
A few embedded gusty thunderstorms may also track into the Los Angeles Basin, bringing along a risk for flash flooding as the day progresses.
"Downpours will cause water to collect in poor drainage areas of urban locations, while normally dry streams and storm water basins can become raging torrents," Sosnowski said.
"Motorists are reminded to never attempt to drive through flooded roads as the road may have been washed away and the force of the flowing water could carry your vehicle downstream," Sosnowski added.
The ground across Southern California and the rest of the Southwest is drier than normal, so flooding will not initially be a concern. However, embedded thunderstorms with the capability of producing rainfall rates in excess of a half inch per hour could create flooding issues, especially in hilly neighborhoods.
There may be the potential for waterspouts to spin onshore in any of the embedded thunderstorms.
Fog may shroud the ridges and passes at times as well.
Related:
Moisture from the Pacific Ocean will continue to pump into Southern California and gradually expand eastward into the Desert Southwest through Thursday night.
Little to no rain is likely to fall on San Francisco, Sacramento and points farther to the north from the storm.
A general 1-3 inches of rainfall is expected across much of Southern California and the Desert Southwest. A few spots in the higher elevations could receive up to 5 inches of rain through the middle part of the week.
Eastward progression of the storm is expected to be very slow through the middle of the week, with many Desert Southwest locales facing the threat of moderate-to-heavy rainfall through Thursday.
Rainfall will likely become more scattered in nature across Southern California as drier air rotates in on Wednesday.
Steadier rain and thunderstorms will then focus on Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, as well as much of the Interstate 10, 25 and 40 corridors over the interior Southwest from Wednesday through Thursday night.
"The rain falling on desert locations is likely to bring a burst of color across the region as flowers grow and blossom in the coming weeks," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller.
Any isolated shower activity remaining across the Golden State will likely come to an end by Thursday night as the storm tracks eastward.
On Friday, the storm will focus locally heavy rain on parts of the southern Plains.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo