Southern California – Southern California welcomed the New Year under steady rain on Thursday morning as a widespread storm system soaked coastal, valley, and mountain communities, raising flooding and mudslide concerns across multiple counties.
According to the National Weather Service, many areas had already recorded close to or more than 1 inch of rain in the previous 24 hours, with an additional 0.5 to 1 inch expected through the late morning and early afternoon.
Rainfall Totals Continue to Climb
Forecasters warned that mountain communities could receive another 2 to 2.5 inches of rain, significantly increasing the risk of flooding and debris flows due to already saturated ground, particularly in burn scar areas vulnerable to mudslides.
While the storm was impactful during the morning hours, meteorologists noted conditions were expected to improve later in the day.
“There will be a very noticeable fall off in rain this afternoon,” the National Weather Service said in a bulletin. “There still could be some lingering showers, but for the most part the event will be over.”
Despite the afternoon improvement, forecasters cautioned that another storm system is expected to arrive over the weekend, keeping soils saturated.
Flood Watch Issued for Multiple Counties
A Flood Watch was placed in effect for both mountain and valley areas across Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
Officials warned that excessive runoff could:
- Cause rivers and creeks to overflow
- Lead to urban flooding, especially in areas with clogged or poor drainage
- Trigger mudslides and debris flows, particularly near wildfire burn scars
Wrightwood Residents Face Repeat Flooding
In the mountain community of Wrightwood, residents were still recovering from flooding caused by the Christmas Eve storm when water returned again on New Year’s Day.
Local resident Warren Line described the frustration of repeated flooding inside his home.
“We ripped the carpet out of here yesterday,” Line said. “Then it filled up with water again today.”
With another storm forecast for the weekend, residents are racing to clear debris while reinforcing properties to prevent further damage.
Rainy Rose Parade in Pasadena
For the first time since 2006, the iconic Rose Parade in Pasadena took place under rainy conditions.
Due to Pasadena’s location near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, rainfall totals were projected near 1.5 inches for the day. With the parade’s 8 a.m. start time coinciding with peak rainfall, attendees prepared with umbrellas, ponchos, and rain gear.
Leo Martinez of Oceanside arrived at the parade route early Thursday morning and embraced the weather.
“We love the rain,” Martinez said. “My wife and I work with plants, so we’re just making the most of it and enjoying it.”
Rose Bowl Game Also Affected
College football fans attending the Rose Bowl Game were also advised to prepare for wet conditions. Although rain intensity was expected to decrease by the 1 p.m. kickoff, the first half of the game was still forecast to be rainy.
Indiana fans in attendance said the weather was still preferable to conditions back home.
“It’s ice and snow in Indiana right now,” Asheley, a visiting fan, said. “Even though the rain isn’t great, we’d rather take this.”
Some sunshine could return later in the afternoon, offering hope for improved conditions by halftime.
24-Hour Rainfall Totals Across the Region
As of Thursday at noon, rainfall totals over the previous 24 hours included:
Los Angeles County
- Bel Air: 2.20 inches
- Beverly Hills: 2.07 inches
- Downtown Los Angeles: 1.74 inches
- Culver City: 1.21 inches
- East Pasadena: 1.78 inches
- Mount Wilson: 2.41 inches
- Lancaster: 0.88 inches
- Canoga Park: 1.22 inches
Orange County
- Brea: 1.97 inches
- Fullerton: 1.53 inches
- Villa Park Dam: 1.15 inches
- Corona del Mar: 0.82 inches
- Anaheim Hills: 1.26 inches
- Huntington Beach: 1.07 inches
Inland Empire
- Lytle Creek Canyon: 3.86 inches
- Chino Hills: 1.65 inches
- Rialto: 1.15 inches
- Wrightwood: 0.84 inches
What Residents Should Watch For
Officials urge residents to remain alert for:
- Rapid water accumulation
- Mudslides in hillside neighborhoods
- Road closures and hazardous driving conditions
Those living near burn scar areas are advised to monitor weather alerts closely and be prepared to move if conditions worsen.
Conclusion
The New Year’s Day storm delivered widespread rain across Southern California, easing drought concerns in some areas while raising immediate flood and mudslide risks in others. While rainfall was expected to taper off by Thursday afternoon, the arrival of another storm this weekend means residents should remain cautious.
Share your experiences with the storm and local conditions in the comments below.
