Santa Ana winds gusted across much of the Southland Monday, beginning a week of unsettled weather that is expected to include more rain in the saturated region, including the likelihood of precipitation falling on the normally sunny Rose Parade in Pasadena.
A high wind warning will be in effect until 3 p.m. for the western Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, along with the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeway corridors, with the National Weather Service forecasting 25 to 40 mph winds gusting up to 60 mph, with localized gusts of up to 75 mph possible at high elevations.
A less severe wind advisory will be in place until 3 p.m. in many other areas, including the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, eastern Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, Calabasas and Malibu. Winds of 25 to 35 mph were anticipated in those areas, with gusts of up to 50 mph possible.
According to the NWS, the winds were expected to peak Monday, then dwindle in strength into Tuesday.
The windy conditions will give way to rain by mid-week, with the NWS calling for “periods of light to moderate rain” beginning Wednesday or Wednesday night and continuing into Saturday. Forecasters said roughly 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible by week’s end in coastal and valley areas, with 2 to 5 inches possible in the mountains.
Given last week’s storms that saturated the ground in many areas, authorities again warned of possible mud and debris flows from the upcoming rain.
According to The Weather Channel, there is a 77% chance of rain in Pasadena for New Year’s Eve and 98% on New Year’s Day — raising the possibility of a soggy Rose Parade. It would be the first time rain fell on the floral procession since 2006. The parade has traditionally managed to avoid precipitation, with rain dampening the event less than a dozen times in its 136 years.