Pasadena Braces for More Rain as Easter Weekend Storm System Intensifies

An unseasonably cold and vigorous storm system will sweep through Pasadena this weekend. The National Weather Service reported the wintry storm will bring periods of heavy rain along with a slight chance of thunderstorms. A warming and drying trend will develop next week, but another storm is possible towards the end of the week.

The NWS said the brunt of the downpour was expected this morning ahead of a cold front. Forecasters predicted that nearly two-thirds of the total rain from this storm will fall during this frontal passage.

As of early Saturday, parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties were under a flood warning, with evacuation warnings and road closures being implemented across the region to mitigate the storm’s impact. 

The cold air combined with unstable atmospheric conditions will create a chance for scattered thunderstorms throughout the weekend. These storms could bring heavy downpours exceeding 1 inch per hour, small hail, and even weak tornadoes or funnel clouds.

The National Weather Service has forecasted widespread rain in the Pasadena region through Monday.

Outdoor Easter and holiday celebrations have been impacted by the storm. The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Stadium were forced to cancel Sunday’s planned Egg Bowl and Bunny Brunch events scheduled for Saturday, March 30, and issued an invitation to a “Hop into Spring” event at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Tuesday, April 2, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. It’s billed as a “mini egg hunt on the field” and photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny.

Local churches have quickly rescheduled and adapted outdoor Easter events.

Lake Avenue Church, which had planned outdoor activities to celebrate the holiday, is moving its events indoors to accommodate the weather conditions.

The church’s traditional 7 a.m. Sunrise Service, initially scheduled to be held outdoors, will now take place in the Skyroom (HH400) on the fourth floor of Hutchins Hall. Lake Avenue Church’s Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, a highlight for many families, has also been relocated. The event will now be held on the main floor of the Worship Center immediately following the Worship Service, according to Senior Pastor Mathew P. John.

Here’s the latest National Weather Service forecast for Pasadena issued at 3:47 a.m. Saturday morning:

Today: Rain before 11 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11 a.m. High near 57. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch are possible.

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms are possible before 11 p.m., followed by a slight chance of showers. The sky is mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. The south wind is around 5 mph, becoming north in the evening. The chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the morning. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 51.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 77.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Friday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.