Los Angeles County is expected to have widespread rain at least through Wednesday of this week. Most of that rainfall is expected to be between Monday and Tuesday. While L.A. is expected to have moderate rainfall, it could be twice that amount due to forecast uncertainty with atmospheric rivers.
Be prepared for:
- wet, slippery roads
- increased traffic incidents
- wet outdoor events
Last week’s storms
A surprising and unusually named storm hit the Pacific Northwest last week. The “bomb cyclone” already caused two deaths and widespread power outages in Seattle and the surrounding region last week.
In addition to the bomb cyclone, another atmospheric river hit the West Coast last week. While Northern California and the PNW bore the brunt of this precipitation, SoCal has also been affected with moderate rainfall.
What is a bomb cyclone?
“Bomb cyclone” is a phrase that stems from the term “bombogenesis.” It is a weather phenomenon that causes extremely strong winds in addition to heavy rain and even snow. A bomb cyclone of this intensity typically occurs only about once every 10 years on the West Coast. This weather event is rare, and it’s being called a “once-in-a-decade” storm.
What is an atmospheric river?
An atmospheric river is a long, narrow area of precipitation in the sky carrying water vapor usually arriving from the tropics. While the nickname “rivers in the sky” sounds romantic, they can actually do a quite a bit of damage once they reach land because of the immense amount of precipitation they carry with them.
Important Safety Tips
Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind in case of a bomb cyclone and/or atmospheric river event:
- Stay inside if possible—ideally on the lowest floor and away from windows.
- Avoid driving if possible.
- Avoid moving water. Do not drive or walk through moving water.
- Avoid risky areas. Stay away from streams, rivers, flood control channels, and other areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not go within 35 feet of downed power lines.
- Stay informed. Listen to the radio or watch television for information and instructions from your local officials. And keep electronic devices charged in order to receive updates.
- Obey evacuation instructions. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Keep your eye on the National Weather Service website here for the latest updated forecasts and advisories. As always, be safe during rainy weather, and try to stay indoors if at all possible.
Keep checking back here. We will update this post if conditions change.