LA Area Sees Record Rainfall; More On The Way

More rain is expected Monday after the Southland saw record rainfall Saturday. Pasadena has a 70 percent chance of rain Monday, mostly in the morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Downtown Los Angeles received 1.82 inches of rain Saturday, breaking the old record of 1.56 inches set in 1978. At LAX, a record 1.53 inches fell Saturday, breaking the old record of 1.51 inches, also from 1978. And 1.72 inches fell at Long Beach Airport, surpassing the 1.48 inches from 1978, according to the NWS.

The rain has been so severe that Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said Saturday night the City Council Meeting will take up the severe weather Pasadena is experiencing and funding for measures to address the “extraordinary level of need we are seeing” in a special Wednesday meeting.

Rain began falling over Los Angeles County late Saturday morning, with the brunt of the system hitting in the late afternoon or evening.

The precipitation tapered off Saturday night, and the rain subsided until late afternoon Sunday, when another less-powerful storm moved in. 

That system is expected to linger over the area into Monday’s national holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the bulk of that day’s rain expected in the morning.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 3 a.m. Tuesday for the Los Angeles County mountains. Forecasters said as much as 3 inches of snow could fall below 7,000 feet, with 5 to 10 inches possible at higher elevations Saturday night. For Sunday night through Monday, snow could accumulate 5 to 10 inches above 5,500 feet, and 3 to 6 inches at higher points.

“Travel could be very difficult,” according to the NWS. “Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. There is a 10 to 20% chance of light snow accumulations on the Grapevine over Interstate 5 Monday night.”

The rain was also creating dangerous conditions for hikers. The Montrose Search and Rescue Team — a nonprofit, volunteer rescues group affiliated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — reported Sunday that “there have been numerous slip and fall incidents in the Angeles National Forest the last few weeks. Some have resulted in fatalities.”

Conditions should dry out by Tuesday, beginning a mostly rain-free week, but some Santa Ana winds could develop by later in the week.

Here is the forecast for Pasadena from the National Weather Service:

M.L.King Day: Showers likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 59.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 36.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62.