The “Rain Train” is Headed Towards Pasadena

Tuesday will be sunny in Pasadena, with maximum expected temperatures at 67, a bit warmer than usual due to the offshore flow and upper level ridge aloft.

Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Wednesday will be mostly sunny as well, with a high near 62, and then the pattern begins to change.

“Surface pressure gradients will turn onshore and a weak eddy is forecast to develop. So, some low clouds and fog will likely return to the San Gabriel Valley,” the National Weather Service says in a Forecast Discussion. “Additionally, mid- and high-level clouds will be on the increase through the day in advance of the first of several storms slated to impact the area through the weekend.”

Pasadena residents will start feeling the effects of the “first of several storms” Wednesday night, when the chance of rain is 60 percent and rain is likely after 11 p.m.

The rain chance increases to 70 percent Thursday morning, with heavy rain likely before 11 a.m. Highs are forecast to be 57.

“Scattered showers will continue through Thursday evening. Rainfall totals with this storm should range from 0.25 and 0.75 inches with locally higher amounts across the favored upslope areas,” the NWS says.

With these new storms coming up during the week, state and regional water managers are beginning to think 2017 could be the end of the California drought that has been on for about five years.

“You’ve seen jumps in snowpack and precipitation amounts. You look at the charts, you see the line just pretty much go straight up,” state climatologist Michael Anderson tells the Los Angeles Times.

He’s not very optimistic, though, about what the rest of the winter could bring.

“The funny thing about this weather pattern — it’s about as unpredictable as you can get,” Anderson tells the LA Times.

The United States Drought Monitor said 41.78 percent of California is out of the official drought category as of January 10. But the parts of the state that are still under drought conditions are almost entirely in the southern half, including Los Angeles County.

“The second storm of the week will move on through Friday and Friday night with scattered showers possible through the day on Saturday,” the NWS says. “This system looks a bit more potent. Initial rainfall estimates are for 0.50 to 1.50 inches.”

The public forecast says Friday will be rainy and cloudy, with a high near 57, and Friday night with a chance of showers, mostly cloudy and with a low around 42.

Showers are likely Saturday into Saturday night, a high near 55 and a low around 42.

By Sunday, the NWS predicts the last storm for the week, but one that could last through Monday afternoon.

“If the current mdl solutions are even close to the truth this will be the most significant storm of them all and by a fair margin,” says the NWS discussion. “It will be interesting to watch the forecast evolution of this system.”

Here is a recap of the forecast:

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday: Rain likely before 10am, then a slight chance of showers after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Friday: Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 57.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.