Strong winds, wintry mix to disrupt Los Angeles to Flagstaff into Monday
By
Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist &
Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Feb 6, 2020 10:16 PM EDT
While in Burbank, California, AccuWeather's Jonathan Petramala observed heavy rain, hail, and possible graupel on Feb. 9.
A storm will generate snow to the mountains of the Las Vegas area and at pass levels in Southern California, but also bring gusty winds throughout the West.
The storm dropped southward along the West Coast, strengthening as it did so. The strengthening storm will force cooler air down with it, allowing for some precipitation to fall as snow.
Into Monday, lower elevations in Southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona can expect additional rain showers to develop and become more numerous.
In addition to rain, thunderstorms are also expected across parts of Arizona into Monday.
"In this type of situation with cold air in place, thunderstorms have been known to be proficient hail producers," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
Rain began to fall over Los Angeles on Sunday evening during the Academy Awards' red carpet event. Videos showed crews coming in to help drain rainwater that had been pooling on the tent roof and leaking through onto the red carpet outside of the Dolby Theatre.
"I don't remember the last time it rained quite like this," Radio personality and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest said on Twitter. "The rain's coming down on the tarp. They just had some people get up on the lift and body press the water up so it would run down the side into the alley here."
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the area to make sure the structure was safe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The storm had first dumped heavy rain and hail over Burbank around noon before reaching Los Angeles.
A heavy amount of rain is not anticipated, but it will be the first rain in two and a half weeks in Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. Rainfall on Jan. 21 ranged from a few tenths of an inch to about 0.50 of an inch in coastal Southern California.
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Meanwhile, Las Vegas has not had any rain since the storm just after Christmas. The storm after Christmas brought Las Vegas around 0.30 of an inch with about 0.50 of an inch in Phoenix and 1-2 inches in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Because of the extended period of dry weather, a buildup of oil and other contaminants on the roads can make for extra slick conditions at the onset of the rain. Once the rain has washed the oils away after a while, roads may become less slippery.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the storm will manufacture its own cold air over the Southwest, allowing snow to fall over elevations that will be disruptive to motorists.
"Snow levels are likely to dip to around 3,000 feet and perhaps lower," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Motorists should anticipate slippery travel over the Grapevine with several inches of snow possible over the mountains in the region. It is possible that Cajon and Tejon passes even close for a time. The elevation of the passes are 3,800 and 4,200 feet, respectively.
The same storm could also bring snow around Las Vegas. Some snow is forecast to fall on the mountains surrounding the region, as well as in the mountains of northern Arizona and New Mexico as the storm moves eastward into Tuesday.
The storm is also forecast to produce locally gusty winds. Santa Ana winds, that first kicked up on Sunday are expected to continue through Monday evening.
While wind advisories were cancelled Sunday evening for portions of the Bay area, advisories will continue into Monday across the higher terrain. As of 4:45 p.m. PST, over 120,000 customers were without power, the majority around the Bay Area. The Santa Rosa Fire Department estimated nearly 19,800 residents were without power across Santa Rosa most likely due to wind damage.
As of late Sunday afternoon, Pacific Gas and Electric continued to work to restore power across many communities after strong wind gusts damaged power lines.
Strong wind gusts will not be quite as widespread Monday across central California, but areas prone to gusty Diablo winds will continue to feel the effects.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
Strong winds, wintry mix to disrupt Los Angeles to Flagstaff into Monday
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist & Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Feb 6, 2020 10:16 PM EDT
While in Burbank, California, AccuWeather's Jonathan Petramala observed heavy rain, hail, and possible graupel on Feb. 9.
A storm will generate snow to the mountains of the Las Vegas area and at pass levels in Southern California, but also bring gusty winds throughout the West.
The storm dropped southward along the West Coast, strengthening as it did so. The strengthening storm will force cooler air down with it, allowing for some precipitation to fall as snow.
Into Monday, lower elevations in Southern California, southern Nevada and western Arizona can expect additional rain showers to develop and become more numerous.
In addition to rain, thunderstorms are also expected across parts of Arizona into Monday.
"In this type of situation with cold air in place, thunderstorms have been known to be proficient hail producers," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
Rain began to fall over Los Angeles on Sunday evening during the Academy Awards' red carpet event. Videos showed crews coming in to help drain rainwater that had been pooling on the tent roof and leaking through onto the red carpet outside of the Dolby Theatre.
"I don't remember the last time it rained quite like this," Radio personality and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest said on Twitter. "The rain's coming down on the tarp. They just had some people get up on the lift and body press the water up so it would run down the side into the alley here."
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the area to make sure the structure was safe, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The storm had first dumped heavy rain and hail over Burbank around noon before reaching Los Angeles.
A heavy amount of rain is not anticipated, but it will be the first rain in two and a half weeks in Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix. Rainfall on Jan. 21 ranged from a few tenths of an inch to about 0.50 of an inch in coastal Southern California.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Meanwhile, Las Vegas has not had any rain since the storm just after Christmas. The storm after Christmas brought Las Vegas around 0.30 of an inch with about 0.50 of an inch in Phoenix and 1-2 inches in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Because of the extended period of dry weather, a buildup of oil and other contaminants on the roads can make for extra slick conditions at the onset of the rain. Once the rain has washed the oils away after a while, roads may become less slippery.
Related:
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the storm will manufacture its own cold air over the Southwest, allowing snow to fall over elevations that will be disruptive to motorists.
"Snow levels are likely to dip to around 3,000 feet and perhaps lower," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Motorists should anticipate slippery travel over the Grapevine with several inches of snow possible over the mountains in the region. It is possible that Cajon and Tejon passes even close for a time. The elevation of the passes are 3,800 and 4,200 feet, respectively.
The same storm could also bring snow around Las Vegas. Some snow is forecast to fall on the mountains surrounding the region, as well as in the mountains of northern Arizona and New Mexico as the storm moves eastward into Tuesday.
The storm is also forecast to produce locally gusty winds. Santa Ana winds, that first kicked up on Sunday are expected to continue through Monday evening.
While wind advisories were cancelled Sunday evening for portions of the Bay area, advisories will continue into Monday across the higher terrain. As of 4:45 p.m. PST, over 120,000 customers were without power, the majority around the Bay Area. The Santa Rosa Fire Department estimated nearly 19,800 residents were without power across Santa Rosa most likely due to wind damage.
As of late Sunday afternoon, Pacific Gas and Electric continued to work to restore power across many communities after strong wind gusts damaged power lines.
Strong wind gusts will not be quite as widespread Monday across central California, but areas prone to gusty Diablo winds will continue to feel the effects.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo