‘Atmospheric River’ to Return, Producing Possibly Heavy Rain Easter Weekend

Another storm system is bearing down on the Pasadena region, slated to arrive Easter weekend amid an “atmospheric river” that could produce heavy precipitation in some locations.

It is too early to know with certainty what the storm’s impact will be upon the City’s anticipated Egg Bowl & Bunny Brunch Return to Rose Bowl Stadium event, scheduled for Saturday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In previous years, many thousands attended.

The National Weather Service said that the broad trough of low pressure is gathering strength as it rotates over the northwest Pacific, with predictions for it to make landfall in Northern California on Wednesday morning, sliding south along the coast and encompassing Southern California by Friday night or the predawn hours Saturday.

“This could be an efficient rain producer, as (models) show an atmospheric river pointing straight into Southern California Saturday into Sunday,” the NWS said in a statement. “The timing and intensity of the precipitation remain in flux, but … regardless of the exact track, cooler temperatures, gusty onshore winds and widespread precipitation continue to appear likely for the weekend.”

It was too early for a specific forecast on potential precipitation amounts, though the weather service acknowledged that rainfall in the Los Angeles metropolitan area could be “heavy at times” on Friday night and Saturday.

Lighter showers were predicted on Easter Sunday.

Rain is in the forecast after midnight Friday with lows in the 50s. Rain is likely on Saturday in Los Angeles with highs in the lower 60s. The rain will continue into Easter Sunday.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for Pasadena issued at 3:49 a.m. on Tuesday morning:

Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.

Wednesday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Friday: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Friday Night: A chance of rain, mainly after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Saturday: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Monday: A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 63.