2018 California/Southwest Weather Thread

[Guest happ]

It has been almost a year since we've had this kind of winter weather. Sorry for the burn areas though.  

 

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
651 PM PST Sat Jan 6 2018

...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND VERY STRONG AND
POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING...

.A strong storm system will generate strong and potentially
damaging southerly winds gusting up to 70 mph across the mountains
of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Interstate 5 near
the Grapevine. Light snowfall could begin at the higher elevations
Monday afternoon, with heavier snowfall possible Monday night into
early Tuesday morning. Snow levels will rapidly drop early
Tuesday morning, with scattered snow showers persisting into
Tuesday evening. Snow levels will initially be 8000 to 9000 feet
Monday into Monday night, lowering rapidly to 4000 to 5000 feet on
Tuesday. There will still be enough moisture to potentially bring
light snow and icy conditions across the Interstate 5 Corridor
near the Grapevine Tuesday into Tuesday evening.

CAZ054-071330-
/O.NEW.KLOX.WS.A.0001.180109T0000Z-180110T0600Z/
Los Angeles County Mountains excluding the Santa Monica Range-
Including the cities of Acton, Mount Wilson, and Sandberg
651 PM PST Sat Jan 6 2018

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued a
Winter Storm Watch, which is in effect from Monday afternoon
through Tuesday evening.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...8 to 18 inches above 8000 feet, 3 to 6
  inches between 6000 and 8000 feet, and 1 to 3 inches possible
  between 4000 and 6000 feet.

* SNOW LEVELS...Initially 8000 to 9000 feet Monday into Monday
  night, lowering rapidly to 4000 to 5000 feet Tuesday.

* WINDS...Southerly winds 25 to 40 mph with damaging gusts to 70
  mph possible. Strongest at higher elevations and near the
  Grapevine.

* IMPACTS...Heavy snow, gusty winds, low visibilities in blowing
  snow and icy roads make for dangerous driving conditions and
  could lead to road closures and travel delays. In addition,
  extended exposure to cold and wind could be life threatening.
  Light snow accumulations and icy conditions will be possible for
  Interstate 5 near the Grapevine Tuesday into Tuesday evening

[Dan the Weatherman]

Really enjoying the onshore flow after weeks and weeks of very low dew points. I kept the bedroom window open overnight to let the moist coolness in like a humidifier for my fever [caught the flu] and actually dreamt of showers. 

 

Friday: 74/ 58

 

NWS_SD is increasing projected rain totals

 

The flu has really been going around recently. I have been sick since the day after Christmas, and just now have begun to feel better the last 2 days. Apparently the flu vaccine hasn't been very effective on one of the predominant flu strains this year. I have hardly ever caught the flu since getting a flu shot on a regular basis, but I believe I have been fighting the flu over the last 2 weeks.

[Minny_Weather]

The flu has really been going around recently. I have been sick since the day after Christmas, and just now have begun to feel better the last 2 days. Apparently the flu vaccine hasn't been very effective on one of the predominant flu strains this year. I have hardly ever caught the flu since getting a flu shot on a regular basis, but I believe I have been fighting the flu over the last 2 weeks.

I was in California for Christmas. There was a stomach bug going around my family. I was deathly afraid I'd be lucky enough to catch it on the plane ride back. Miraculously, I didn't catch it at all.

[Guest happ]

The flu has really been going around recently. I have been sick since the day after Christmas, and just now have begun to feel better the last 2 days. Apparently the flu vaccine hasn't been very effective on one of the predominant flu strains this year. I have hardly ever caught the flu since getting a flu shot on a regular basis, but I believe I have been fighting the flu over the last 2 weeks.

 

I was sick as a dog [per the peculiar saying] and surprised since I had the flu shot. Also had a nagging cold earlier in December and wonder if the dry dusty winds this autumn/ winter played a role in the worst allergy season I can recall.

[Guest happ]

Fog socked in the coast/ basin and some valley areas this morning but all eyes are on the developing storm

 

Saturday: 70/ 59

[Anti Marine Layer]

Marine layer fog burned off here late this morning while the Central Valley is having their infamous tule fog. We had our latest sunrise of the year this morning in Standard Time.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Lots of high clouds again giving another chance for a nice sunset tonight. Sunset times become later than 5 PM this week. Still waiting for the big storm.

[Guest happ]

Very pleasant pop-up ridge before the trough offshore moves in.

 

75/ 55

[Anti Marine Layer]

Light rain this morning, but nothing measurable.

[Anti Marine Layer]

0.01 inches now for Fullerton. We are off to a very slow start, but the light rain is steadily falling.

[Guest happ]

Ground is slightly wet but that is about it so far. Patiently/ anxiously waiting

[Guest happ]

I'm having a NAN wet dream!

 

 

[Guest happ]

SST uniformly 60-63F even in deep water channel islands

@anzaborrego

 

[Guest happ]

Great shot; we are ready!

 

La Jolla

@disqus_ZjG4sCQJyo

 

[Thunder98]

[Anti Marine Layer]

Rain is starting to get heavier here, but nothing so far in San Diego.

[Anti Marine Layer]

San Diego finally got something.

[Guest happ]

Light occasional showers today; more to come

 

66/ 60

[Anti Marine Layer]

San Diego County, including Lindbergh Field, got over an inch already, but the Orange County rainfall totals have been pathetic so far. Hoping that the cold front brings lots of heavy rain.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Looks like cold front is moving slower than forecast.

 

Some of the really wet years like 2010-11 got at least half of their rainfall from one week of very strong storms, while the rest of the season was pretty much average.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Palm Springs got more rain than most of Orange County. Looks like this storm will be a major disappointment for Orange County in terms of rainfall totals.

[Guest happ]

Storm total: 1.18 [so far]. Heavy shower around 6:30am produced the bulk of the rainfall. Not exactly what was forecast but convective showers are possible today. 

[Anti Marine Layer]

It is coming down pretty hard now although the main cold front seems to have passed. Time for the convective stuff.

[Guest happ]

Typical minor street flooding 

[Anti Marine Layer]

Getting another heavy rain shower here. Some people were running without their umbrellas, so it came on pretty quickly.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Another deluge after some brief sunshine. Too bad about the mudslides.

[Anti Marine Layer]

It is really coming down right now after a very weak frontal passage early this morning.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Very little excitement from other members about our big storm. Sunset tonight is at 5:00 PM (finally) and it looks like the sun may come out soon.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Broken rain gauge problems for John Wayne Airport. The rain has stopped for now but not without one final massive downpour.

[Guest happ]

Precisely what I hoped for: scattered convective showers as the upper low moved across SoCal this afternoon.

 

61/ 53

 

Storm: 2.23

Rain Year [jul-jun]: 2.45   

[Anti Marine Layer]

Cold front has arrived in Phoenix, bringing a big drop in temperatures and some thunderstorms there. Rain has died down here and I was able to take my dog around the block for a walk around 6 PM.

[Dylan]

I picked up around 2" in Santa Barbara.  Some areas where the mudslides occurred picked up in excess of .5" in about 5 minutes.  That is a lot of rain in such a short period of time especially considering this is the first rain of more than a quarter of an inch this season.

[Dan the Weatherman]

This storm was quite good for Orange. Yesterday it was off and on lighter rain for the most part, but the heavier rains arrived late and continued into the overnight hours. There was a break this morning, but it rained for a good portion of this afternoon, heavy at times, before tapering off in the evening and ending after dark. I will check my rain gauge tomorrow and post a total then.

[Guest happ]

It was such a relief to finally get some rain. The anxiety that turned into excitement was palpable on WeatherWest.   Prefrontal muggy showers Monday night only produced  0.22. Yesterday's rainfall, all during daylight, started with wind/ heavy shower after sunrise. Then dry until afternoon w/ little thunder/ periodic light/moderate rain adding another inch. Temp dropped to 54F while low moved over [max was around midnight]. Might be a while before it rains again.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Lots of clouds left behind after the storm today, but those should be swept out by tonight as the flow turns offshore. Hopefully the hills will turn green soon and the fire danger will be down for a while even during Santa Ana Winds.

[Guest happ]

Pretty gruesome footage of Santa Barbara/ Montecito  

 

http://abc7.com/weather/santa-barbara-county-flooding-death-toll-rises-to-15/2923025/

[Anti Marine Layer]

Lots of people coughing and sneezing today as it's that time of year. As a precaution, I'm washing my hands a lot and taking lots of Emergen-C. People should not come into the office sick, even when they are past the worst part of the cold or flu. Especially today when many jobs allow you to work from home over Remote Desktop. Christmas is the most likely time to get sick, though, and my dad would bring the flu to our family every single Christmas vacation before he retired. 

 

Cold weather today, but looks like sun will come out soon. Then it's back to the normal ridging and offshore flow for a few days.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Anybody ever see this? It's like this year.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X4UlsAoknXk

[Guest happ]

According to this map, winter is basically half over in late December for much of the Western U.S.

[Guest happ]

Fairly uneventful weather for a while

 

70/ 50