California snowpack is below average, but winter storms could change that
1 month, 3 weeks ago

California snowpack is below average, but winter storms could change that

LA Times  

After an extremely dry January, California’s snowpack in the Sierra Nevada now measures just 65% of the average for this time of year, but state water officials said two winter storms are expected to bring more snow and rain that will add to the state’s water supplies. “We’ve had a very dry January,” said Andy Reising, manager of snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the state Department of Water Resources. We’ll get some snow, but we just don’t know how much.” On average, the Sierra snowpack supplies about 30% of California’s water. Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources, said despite a good start to the snowpack in the northern Sierra in November and December, “we can look back as recently as 2013 and 2021 to show how quickly conditions can change for the drier.” “California missed out on critical snow-building storms in January,” Nemeth said.

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History of this topic

Southern California is heating up. How long will the high temperatures last?
2 days, 8 hours ago

Southern California is heating up. How long will the high temperatures last?

LA Times  

Temperatures in Southern California will continue to climb Monday, with many areas from Burbank to Santa Clarita likely to experience the hottest day of the year so far. The heat is forecast to reach 87 degrees in downtown Los Angeles and 90 degrees in Burbank, with even warmer temperatures predicted in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys. …

Atmospheric river set to roll in, with threat of rain, snow, floods and mud, forecasters say
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Atmospheric river set to roll in, with threat of rain, snow, floods and mud, forecasters say

LA Times  

A pedestrian stays dry Wednesday in Santa Ana. A storm is first expected to drench San Diego County on Monday night before an atmospheric river storm soaks the L.A. region midweek, posing a threat to burn scar areas. An atmospheric river is expected to arrive early Wednesday, bringing heavy precipitation along the coast of California through Thursday, with significant impacts …

Rain and small chance of weak tornadoes coming to Southern California beginning Wednesday
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Rain and small chance of weak tornadoes coming to Southern California beginning Wednesday

LA Times  

Rain is returning to Southern California this week. “There’s a one-two punch where we’ll have periods of light to moderate rain for most of the area on Wednesday and then Thursday will have more moderate rainfall,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Robbie Munroe. pic.twitter.com/MZhuouSSeL — NWS Los Angeles March 4, 2025 There will also be enough cold air and instability …

A second winter storm brings cold, rain and snow to millions
1 month, 2 weeks ago

A second winter storm brings cold, rain and snow to millions

NPR  

A second winter storm brings cold, rain and snow to millions toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP The most significant winter storm this year for California is making its way to fire-ravaged communities of Southern California, and threatens to bring potentially deadly, "raging torrents of rockslides and mudslides," according to National Weather Service forecasts. "The heavy rain may cause flooding in …

Strongest storm in a year bearing down on Southern California: What you need to know
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Strongest storm in a year bearing down on Southern California: What you need to know

LA Times  

The strongest storm in a year is set to pound Southern California this week, with forecasters warning of potential widespread roadway flooding and the chance of landslides throughout the region — especially in areas recently charred in the devastating Los Angeles County firestorms. Heavy rain is expected in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties on Thursday, and in Los …

Rainy forecast renews debris slide fears in Southern California as winter storms bring snow and ice to eastern US
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Rainy forecast renews debris slide fears in Southern California as winter storms bring snow and ice to eastern US

CNN  

CNN — Editor’s Note: This story is no longer being updated. “The weight of ice on tree limbs and power lines could produce numerous outages.” Storm one hits Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic Tuesday’s storm is tracking farther south than either of last week’s and putting areas that avoided a wintry mess right in the thick of it. Portions of California’s Los Angeles …

Wildfires in California, rare snowstorm in Southern US | A contrast in pics
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Wildfires in California, rare snowstorm in Southern US | A contrast in pics

Hindustan Times  

Wildfires in California, rare snowstorm in Southern US | A contrast in pics While California in Western US fights unprecedented wildfires, southern parts of the country woke up to rare snow storm in. While California in Western US fights unprecedented wildfires, southern parts of the country woke up to rare snow storm in a stark contrast of weather. 1 / …

With negligible rain in 8 months, Southern California swings toward drought
2 months, 3 weeks ago

With negligible rain in 8 months, Southern California swings toward drought

LA Times  

California is entering the fourth month of what is typically the rainy season, but in the Southland, the landscape is beginning to show signs of drought. “Southern California remains dry,” said Michael Anderson, state climatologist for the Department of Water Resources. At this point last year, precipitation remained below average until a “miracle March” storm came along and pushed up …

California begins 2025 with solid start to winter snowpack, but more storms are needed
2 months, 3 weeks ago

California begins 2025 with solid start to winter snowpack, but more storms are needed

Associated Press  

PHILLIPS STATION, Calif. — California is beginning 2025 with a solid start to the winter snowpack, officials said Thursday, but they cautioned that more storms are needed to keep the state’s water supplies on track. Officials at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range that covers the eastern part of the state, recorded a snow depth of 24 …

December Wildfires Are Now a Thing
3 months ago

December Wildfires Are Now a Thing

Wired  

This story originally appeared on High Country News and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. A downtown Los Angeles weather station has recorded only 5.7 inches of rain this year, and not even a quarter-inch has fallen in December, which is usually the middle of the region’s wet season. That’s the real kicker.” Daniel Swain, climate scientist, UCLA In …

A weak La Niña could bring dry conditions to parts of Southwest this winter, NOAA says
5 months, 1 week ago

A weak La Niña could bring dry conditions to parts of Southwest this winter, NOAA says

LA Times  

A weak La Niña is forecast to appear this winter and affect weather patterns across the country, likely bringing drier-than-average conditions in much of the Southwest and wetter-than-average conditions in the Pacific Northwest, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Drought is not favored to develop in California at the current time, but it’s something we will be watching …

California extreme weather shift: From record heat to cold, rain, even snow
6 months, 1 week ago

California extreme weather shift: From record heat to cold, rain, even snow

LA Times  

Climber Kevin Fentress of Brooklyn, N.Y. climbs up the high seaside cliff at Point Dume under overcast skies on Sept. 12. “We have ups and downs with weather as patterns shift, so the fact that we have some cool weather now and slowing fire season won’t necessarily change the total outcome of the fire season.” The most damaging and destructive …

El Niño makes an exit, but La Niña could bring dry conditions back to California
9 months, 1 week ago

El Niño makes an exit, but La Niña could bring dry conditions back to California

LA Times  

After a year of dominance, El Niño’s wrath has come to end — but its climate-churning counterpart, La Niña, is hot on its heels and could signal a return to dryness for California. “La Niña generally results in cooler global mean temperatures,” L’Heureux said in an email. “The tilt toward increased chances of below-average precipitation and above-average temperatures for the …

‘Unseasonably cold’ storm driving another chilly, damp weekend for Southern California
10 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Unseasonably cold’ storm driving another chilly, damp weekend for Southern California

LA Times  

Another chilly and damp weekend is on tap for Southern California as a storm brings cooler temperatures, possible showers and some strong winds. The system is not expected to deliver any major blows, but it’s forecast to further drop temperatures and deepen the marine layer through at least Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Most of the rain from …

Summer heat won’t last: Another cold, wet storm set to hit SoCal this weekend
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Summer heat won’t last: Another cold, wet storm set to hit SoCal this weekend

LA Times  

Pedestrians walk past Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday. “I am pretty sure it’s been every weekend for the last several weekends too.” These cold, wet Northern Pacific storms have seemingly targeted Angelenos’ spring weekends, hitting week after week on Friday or Saturday — often chilling outdoor weekend plans. But after this system — which is expected to bring cool …

Why this year’s average California snowpack is no reason for celebration
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Why this year’s average California snowpack is no reason for celebration

LA Times  

Wearing snowshoes and aviator sunglasses, Gov. Gavin Newsom stood in a field near Lake Tahoe recently and listened as an engineer from the Department of Water Resources announced the results of California’s April snow survey, which is conducted every year when snow depths in the Sierra Nevada reach their maximum. Though rising temperatures will cause some would-be snow to fall …

Coldest storm of the year brings rain, thunder and snow to Southern California
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Coldest storm of the year brings rain, thunder and snow to Southern California

LA Times  

A runner jogs along the sand as waves roil the ocean along an empty beach in Santa Monica. There was a chance for snow at elevations as low as 2,000 feet in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego county mountains — the lowest freezing point seen this year, said Rich Thompson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in …

‘Unseasonably cold’: April storm bringing winter temperatures, low snow levels to California
11 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Unseasonably cold’: April storm bringing winter temperatures, low snow levels to California

LA Times  

It might feel like spring Wednesday, with highs across Los Angeles reaching into the high 70s, but Thursday is going to be a “shock to the system,” weather experts say. Temperatures on Thursday and Friday are expected to drop 15 to 20 degrees from Wednesday’s highs as a cold storm blows across California, bringing low-elevation snow, showers and the potential …

California enters spring with vital snowpack above average for a second year
11 months, 3 weeks ago

California enters spring with vital snowpack above average for a second year

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — California has entered spring with an above-average mountain snowpack and major reservoirs in good shape for a second consecutive year, staving off immediate water supply concerns but not allaying drought worries in a warming world. The California Department of Water Resources measured the water content of the Sierra Nevada snowpack Tuesday at 110% of the April 1 …

Editorial: California snow survey makes it official — we’re all wet
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Editorial: California snow survey makes it official — we’re all wet

LA Times  

Sean de Guzman, right, manager of the California Department of Water Resources Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, and water resources engineer Anthony Burdock, left, measure the snowpack in January at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The crucial April snow survey conducted Tuesday morning showed above-average Sierra snowpack. “Average is awesome,” California Department of Water Resources Director Karla …

California storms deliver above-average snowpack, replenish reservoirs
11 months, 3 weeks ago

California storms deliver above-average snowpack, replenish reservoirs

LA Times  

California’s mountains are covered with snow, reservoirs are mostly filled and hills across the state are sprouting green grass and wildflowers after the latest round of soaking storms. “Because every year could be the first year of a 10-year drought.” Even with the state’s reservoirs at healthy levels, California continues to face complex water management problems, such as struggling fish …

Gusty winds, rainy conditions to continue across Southern California through the weekend
1 year ago

Gusty winds, rainy conditions to continue across Southern California through the weekend

LA Times  

A man who chose not to give his name holds an umbrella while selling plants during a rainy day at Leimert Park Plaza on Saturday in Los Angeles. Gusty winds and rainy conditions will continue across Southern California this weekend, with intermittent showers expected through Sunday morning. Steady rain will continue in Los Angeles County until about noon, followed by …

More rain hits L.A., California this weekend, while the Sierra again braces for heavy snow
1 year ago

More rain hits L.A., California this weekend, while the Sierra again braces for heavy snow

LA Times  

As much of California braces for more rain this weekend, the Sierra Nevada are again expecting such a heavy snowfall that motorists are being warned to prepare, or simply avoid, the region. Most areas are expected to get less than 1 inch of rain, though the mountains and San Diego deserts could see up to 2 inches, according to the …

Cold storm dumps snow on Southern California mountains, threatens severe thunderstorms
1 year ago

Cold storm dumps snow on Southern California mountains, threatens severe thunderstorms

LA Times  

Workers check vehicles for snow chains at California 18 and Arrowhead Villa Road in Lake Arrowhead on Friday. The strong, cold storm that blasted damaging Santa Ana winds across the Southland on Thursday changed course overnight, dumping up to a foot of snow on San Bernardino County’s highest peaks and threatening thunderstorms throughout much of Southern California. “They could end …

Satellite photos show California turning green and snowy after winter storms
1 year ago

Satellite photos show California turning green and snowy after winter storms

LA Times  

Isabella Recio, 4, walks on the trail in a field of California poppies outside the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve on April 7, 2023. In 2023, the state found itself replenished by a record number of storms fed by atmospheric rivers, which brought most places out of drought and transformed a withered landscape into a verdant one. …

Recent storms pushed California’s yearly rainfall, snowpack even higher — and more could be coming
1 year ago

Recent storms pushed California’s yearly rainfall, snowpack even higher — and more could be coming

LA Times  

People cross the street amid wind and rain as they visit the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach on Wednesday. Downtown Los Angeles received 0.72 inches from Wednesday’s storm, bringing its total rainfall to 18.99 inches since Oct. 1 — the beginning of the water year. “We’re about 7.5 inches above average for this time of year,” said Kristan …

California blizzard leaves residents tunneling out with more snow on the way: Live
1 year ago

California blizzard leaves residents tunneling out with more snow on the way: Live

The Independent  

✕ Close 100mph Winds And 12ft Of Snow Expected In California Storm Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Snow continued to …

Another wet weekend as new storm hits Southern California. How long will it rain?
1 year ago

Another wet weekend as new storm hits Southern California. How long will it rain?

LA Times  

Float fisherman Johnathan O. Skinner casts his line near one of the submerged docks at Launch Pointe on Lake Elsinore. Another winter storm hit Southern California this weekend, but it is expected to be milder than previous rain events. The cold storm was forecast to bring “steady light to locally moderate rain and mountain snow to the area,” the weather …

California blizzard slowly weakens, but a second storm is forecast for this week
1 year ago

California blizzard slowly weakens, but a second storm is forecast for this week

NPR  

California blizzard slowly weakens, but a second storm is forecast for this week Enlarge this image toggle caption Mario Tama/Getty Images Mario Tama/Getty Images The Sierra Nevada region is forecast for some temporary relief on Sunday before another round of heavy snow this week. The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions are expected to improve beginning Sunday morning, though heavy …

Another storm is coming to Southern California early next week. How big will it be?
1 year, 1 month ago

Another storm is coming to Southern California early next week. How big will it be?

LA Times  

Sam Hale of Garden Grove looks for driftwood he can use in landscaping projects Wednesday in a debris field left by the rain-swollen Santa Ana River in Huntington Beach. Southern Californians can brace for another round of wet weather, with a storm expected to hit the region early next week to cap off a month of historically wet weather. “This …

The Sierra’s remarkable recovery: ‘Snow drought’ fears overturned in a flash
1 year, 1 month ago

The Sierra’s remarkable recovery: ‘Snow drought’ fears overturned in a flash

LA Times  

Concerns that California might remain in a “ snow drought ” this winter have eased after a series of storms this month blanketed the Sierra Nevada with a near-average amount of snow for this time of year. “Overall, I’m not worried about drought for the rest of this year,” said Jay Lund, a professor emeritus and vice director of the …

Striking satellite photos show California snow replenished by recent storms
1 year, 1 month ago

Striking satellite photos show California snow replenished by recent storms

LA Times  

A skier rides a chairlift amid fresh snow at Mountain High Resort, in Wrightwood, on Feb. 2. Two “Pineapple Express” atmospheric river storms hit California within a week, delivering significant precipitation across the West Coast. The image below from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shows the Sierra Nevada mountain range on Jan. 29 and Feb. 11. The image shows …

After a brief reprieve more wet weather is on the way for Southern California
1 year, 1 month ago

After a brief reprieve more wet weather is on the way for Southern California

LA Times  

Gilberto Bueno rides a horse through a Duarte neighborhood as heavy rain pelted the region last week. Southern California is enjoying a brief reprieve from the wet weather, but it’s expected to return in a few days. Crisp morning temperatures will make way for sunny skies across Southern California this week, but don’t stash those umbrellas and rain boots away …

Southern California is finally starting to dry out. The next storm may come in 9 days
1 year, 1 month ago

Southern California is finally starting to dry out. The next storm may come in 9 days

LA Times  

Evan Ricciardi, 18, a student at Biola University, takes his turn using a rope from a footbridge to stay in position and surf stormwater rushing through a La Mirada flood control channel that runs through La Mirada Creek Park on Tuesday. After five days of drenching rain and heavy snow, primarily driven by a relentless atmospheric river storm that caused …

El Niño and climate change are supercharging incoming storm, SoCal’s biggest this winter
1 year, 1 month ago

El Niño and climate change are supercharging incoming storm, SoCal’s biggest this winter

LA Times  

Storm clouds hang over Walton Lighthouse on Thursday in Santa Cruz. “As ocean temperatures warm, and as atmospheric temperatures warm, those rates of evaporation of water vapor into the lower atmosphere are going to increase quite quickly,” Swain said during a briefing Friday. “We’ve now seen this happen at least four times this year in California — in San Francisco, …

California is in a ‘snow drought.’ Why this week’s atmospheric rivers won’t be enough to end it
1 year, 1 month ago

California is in a ‘snow drought.’ Why this week’s atmospheric rivers won’t be enough to end it

LA Times  

Despite forecasts of heavy rain and possible flooding in the coming days, state water managers are warning that the “snow drought” in California’s Sierra Nevada could remain for the rest of the winter and into the spring. Swain said while it’s hard to predict how the snowpack will turn out, this year could end up with a below-average snowpack “because …

Water content of California’s snowpack is well below normal, but a new round of storms approaches
1 year, 1 month ago

Water content of California’s snowpack is well below normal, but a new round of storms approaches

Associated Press  

PHILLIPS STATION, Calif. — The water content of California’s mountain snowpack was just over half of the normal average on Tuesday, a modest increase from Jan. 1 but still far below the usual, state officials said. Electronic measurements statewide showed a snow water equivalent of 8.4 inches, or 52% of average to date, the California Department of Water Resources said …

A major wet weather pattern is barreling toward California. But it’s not the dreaded ‘megaflood’
1 year, 1 month ago

A major wet weather pattern is barreling toward California. But it’s not the dreaded ‘megaflood’

LA Times  

Travelers arrive at LAX in the rain last week. “There’s definitely a chance for heavy rain as well as thunderstorms, and that means we do have a risk of flooding on Thursday,” said Brandt Maxwell, a National Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego. Moderate rainfall is forecast across Central California and Los Angeles County, but no significant flooding is expected …

Storm drops snow across the Sierra, including at ski resorts. Will it stave off the snow drought?
1 year, 2 months ago

Storm drops snow across the Sierra, including at ski resorts. Will it stave off the snow drought?

LA Times  

The latest storm dumped about a foot of snow in the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe regions, including at major ski resorts, alleviating the threat of a “drought” resulting from a depleted snowpack. “The snow character was heavier and wetter overall, but we were dealing with higher snow levels.We confined higher snow levels to above 7,000 feet, so there were …

California’s biggest winter storm so far is on its way. Will it put a dent in the ‘snow drought’?
1 year, 2 months ago

California’s biggest winter storm so far is on its way. Will it put a dent in the ‘snow drought’?

LA Times  

Amelia Dinh, 7, and her mother, Mai Dinh, put the finishing touches on a snowman along Mt. After a worryingly weak start to the winter for California’s mountains, two storms — including what’s expected to be the biggest of the season so far — are expected to dump several inches of snow on the Sierra Nevada this week, days after …

‘Snow drought’ grips California and western United States, despite recent storms
1 year, 2 months ago

‘Snow drought’ grips California and western United States, despite recent storms

LA Times  

Although recent storms have thrashed the California coastline and boosted reservoir levels, the downpours have so far failed to deposit significant snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which experts say is in the grips of a severe, early season “snow drought.” December’s powerful storms delivered super-sized waves and record-setting rainfall in California, but most of it fell in coastal areas, and …

California begins 2024 with below-normal snowpack a year after one of the best starts in decades
1 year, 2 months ago

California begins 2024 with below-normal snowpack a year after one of the best starts in decades

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — California is beginning 2024 with a below-normal mountain snowpack a year after it had one of its best starts in decades, and officials said Tuesday that the weather whiplash has made the outcome of this winter uncertain. The water content of the statewide snowpack was 25% of the average to date, said Sean de Guzman, a water …

New year, new storms: Snow, rain, cold temperatures dipping into California this week
1 year, 2 months ago

New year, new storms: Snow, rain, cold temperatures dipping into California this week

LA Times  

A surfer is silhouetted by cloudy skies at dusk amid cool weather in Huntington Beach on Sunday. The first week of the new year is bringing new storms to California, with snow, rain, more big surf, gusty winds and possible thunderstorms. “The first part of the storm will move through pretty quickly,” said meteorologist Ryan Kittle with the National Weather …

New year to bring the coldest storm of the season so far, officials say
1 year, 2 months ago

New year to bring the coldest storm of the season so far, officials say

LA Times  

The first week of 2024 is expected to be a cold and wet one in Los Angeles, according to the National Weather Service. Highs on New Year’s Day are expected to be in the upper 50s to mid-60s, officials said. Highs are expected to be in the 50s midweek, which is cooler than normal for this time of year, weather …

Rain falls across California as thunderstorm threat grows. More storms forecast into weekend
1 year, 4 months ago

Rain falls across California as thunderstorm threat grows. More storms forecast into weekend

LA Times  

Most areas of Southern California can expect up to half an inch of rain Wednesday, forecasters said. Rain moved into Southern California Wednesday as back-to-back storms dancing off the coastline are forecast to bring successive rounds of precipitation into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters also warned Wednesday afternoon about a growing “instability” within the moisture-rich storm, …

Southern California’s first significant storm of the season expected to hit Wednesday
1 year, 4 months ago

Southern California’s first significant storm of the season expected to hit Wednesday

LA Times  

The first significant storm of the season is expected to arrive midweek in Southern California, bringing cooler temperatures and 1 to 2 inches of rain over several days. The predicted rainfall total is “fairly significant for this early in the season,” said meteorologist David Gomberg with the National Weather Service. “It’s just kind of this longer duration of light-to-moderate rainfall …

First measurable snow of the season heading for California. See how much will fall
1 year, 5 months ago

First measurable snow of the season heading for California. See how much will fall

LA Times  

An early season snowstorm is headed for portions of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada this week, with forecasts of gusty winds, widespread freezes and potential travel challenges, weather officials said. Details: https://t.co/PINwkjv1Fl pic.twitter.com/ZYN8pb0I1U — NWS Reno October 24, 2023 Forecasters warned that even light snow accumulation could produce slick roads across Sierra passes late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. …

A warm, wet El Niño winter is in store for California and much of the U.S.
1 year, 5 months ago

A warm, wet El Niño winter is in store for California and much of the U.S.

LA Times  

After a blistering summer of record heat, raging wildfires and unpredictable storms, federal scientists on Thursday said a warm, wet winter driven by El Niño is in store for California and much of the rest of the country. “The anticipated strong El Niño is the predominant climate factor driving the U.S. winter outlook this year,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of …

El Niño is getting stronger, and odds are tilting toward another wet winter for California
1 year, 6 months ago

El Niño is getting stronger, and odds are tilting toward another wet winter for California

LA Times  

A photo from March shows the El Rico Pipe Yard in Corcoran submerged from powerful storms and the resurgence of Tulare Lake. “Right now, if you had to put money on it, the good money would probably be on a significantly wetter-than-average second half to winter in particular,” Swain said during a briefing Thursday, noting that those months are already …

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