Southland residents making plans for Christmas may want to ensure they’ll be indoors, or armed with an umbrella, with forecasters predicting a Pineapple Express storm that will dump several inches of rain across most of the region.
The exact timing and strength of the “significant” atmospheric river were still in flux as of Friday, but National Weather Service forecasters said rain is likely to begin falling Tuesday evening, continuing through Christmas Eve, with another burst of rain then expected Christmas Day through Friday.
The first blast of rain could drop anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain in many areas, with mountains receiving up to 5 inches.
The second round of precipitation could drop another 1 to 2.5 inches, with another 4 inches possible in the mountains. Snow levels will also fall to about 6,000 feet.
“As for winds, strong and gusty southeasterly winds are likely, beginning Tuesday and continuing through Christmas Day,” according to the NWS. “The peak winds look to occur on Christmas Eve. There is a good chance that many areas will have at least advisory-level winds with some mountain areas possibly getting warning-level gusts.
“Overall, next week looks to be a very soggy and impactful holiday week. Given the significant amount of rainfall, there will likely be widespread hydrologic issues, including potential for mud and debris flows and widespread urban flooding. Also, there could be some significant winter weather issues up in the mountains. So, if traveling on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, be prepared for impactful weather.”