Apr. 10-14 Southwest (So. Cal) Late Winter Storms, Downtown L.A. escapes Top ten driest water years. More rain Friday? Options

[Beck]

Two storms are set to drench Southern California this week, the first arriving Tuesday night and lasting through Wednesday evening. It will be a fast-moving storm, and is posed to drop up to half an inch of rain in most areas. Snow levels are predicted to be around 5,500 feet.

The second storm was originally forecast to be colder and stronger. A chance of rain begins Thursday night and turns into showers throughout the day on Friday, then chances of rain will linger into Saturday morning.

Now, however, the NWS has indicated in their forecast discussions that the second storm may be weaker than previously thought, due to the storm taking a more inland route.

Update 04/11/12: Downtown L.A. recorded 0.73" inches from Wednesday's storm, bringing the 2011-12 water year total to 7.70" inches. This is above the top 10 driest water year season totals, which Downtown L.A. was at risk of getting caught in due to the dry winter.

This post has been edited by Beck: Apr 11 2012, 09:12 PM

[Jet Developer]

Two storms are set to drench Southern California this week, the first arriving Tuesday night and lasting through Wednesday evening. It will be a fast-moving storm, and is posed to drop up to half an inch of rain in most areas. Snow levels are predicted to be around 5,500 feet.

The second storm will be colder and stronger. A chance of rain begins Thursday night and turns into showers throughout the day on Friday, then chances of rain will linger into Saturday morning. Rain totals are predicted to be up to one inch in the coasts and valleys. Snow levels are forecast to fall down to 4,500 feet Friday.

According to Los Angeles forecast discussion, 2nd storm is starting to look not as wet. It could be ever drier than the 1st storm. Maybe the 2nd storm will be more focused on San Diego.

This post has been edited by Jet Developer: Apr 9 2012, 11:21 PM

[LALEO]

As quickly as the models changed their tune, I'm not discounting anything with the 2nd storm as it's still several days away..This first storm looks to dump between .50"-1", Which is not bad considering it's moving into Mid April.

[vb3347]

According to Los Angeles forecast discussion, 2nd storm is starting to look not as wet. It could be ever drier than the 1st storm. Maybe the 2nd storm will be more focused on San Diego.

Yeah, it looks like it will track more inland than previously thought...

[Beck]

According to Los Angeles forecast discussion, 2nd storm is starting to look not as wet. It could be ever drier than the 1st storm. Maybe the 2nd storm will be more focused on San Diego.

Hmm....NWS San Diego has updated their forecast discussion recently claiming the same thing - apparently the low is looking to take a more inland track, which means a lot less rain for us. But that also means that San Diego would not be more favored during the second storm, nor would any other location in the region.

[alxz310]

Actually wxmodels don't seem to be outputting any precipitation at all for us with the second storm, although I think that's a but dramatic. Also I'll be flying up to NorCal (Davis) for the day Friday - right when it could rain/hail . Should be interesting though

[Jet Developer]

Marine layer did not make it very far, which is quite unusual with a trough coming in. Also, it some places it seems to have been moving in and out during the night. Strange thing is that Montgomery Field went from 51 to 54 in the last hour as the marine layer clouds came in.

[Artisane]

NWS talks about snow down to 4000ft for the 2nd storm. I'll enjoy the cool and wet weather while it lasts.

[Beck]

Both storms look to produce about a third of an inch each for my area. I guess we'll see how they hold up....

[Beck]

Hazy today for the first time in a while, even though the marine layer was not present here this morning.
High should be near 72F today, with winds from the southwest 10 to 15mph.

[Beck]

Clouds have begun scattering themselves across the afternoon sky over the last 2 hours, prelude to the rain arriving late tonight in the region. Still a third of an inch predicted for the valleys.

[alxz310]

Some random clouds overnight and very early in the morning, but otherwise mild with sunshine here today (high of 64F at the airport). Expecting something around .60" here with the first front

[alxz310]

Funny how it's still sunny with only a few clouds here and there while the front is so close; it also seems to be pretty much stationary with the rain band just a few miles from SLO.

[Beck]

The storm front is currently slowly etching it's way down the coast towards Santa Barbara. It is expected to reach the LA Basin around midnight, and maybe an hour or two later for us folks further south/east. This storm looks to favor Los Angeles a lot more than anywhere south - up to an inch is predicted for the coasts & valleys of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Between a quarter and half of an inch is predicted for those of us in Riverside and San Diego counties. Less than one tenth of an inch for the deserts.




This post has been edited by Beck: Apr 10 2012, 08:34 PM

[NorEaster07]

NWS FB Page

[alxz310]

Why hello... chances of thunderstorms and/or small hail with the frontal passage overnight

WITH PROJECTED LIFTED INDEX
VALUES OF 0 TO -2 OVER THE ABOVE MENTIONED AREAS...ALONG WITH MAX
CAPE VALUES IN EXCESS OF 500 J/KG

MAIN THREAT WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO
DEVELOP INCLUDE BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL.

[Jet Developer]

Too bad most of the good stuff will happen overnight when we cannot watch it. Hopefully we can get some good downpours after sunrise and before the morning commute.

[ChrisL]

Humidity is definitely up from last night according to my weather station. It was around 30% last night. Currently it's reading 68%.

[LALEO]

The winds have picked up, The humidity has gone up, and you can almost smell and feel it coming. It's looking a lot more impressive than I had imagined it. My winders are going to be open tonight despite the coolness just for the sound of rain. Looks to be a very active night here. Also as Alxz310 stated, The threat of thunderstorms with hail, etc is there as well for the coastal bight.

[alxz310]

POURING rain for the past half hour or so with 0.08" recorded so far and accumulating VERY quickly at this rate