LOS ANGELES—After a cold and wet Christmas, the Southland is in for more of the same this week, with rain and snow in the forecast through New Year’s Eve save for brief respites on Dec. 26 and 27.
Sunday’s high temperatures were mostly in the 50s, and in the upper 40s in the mountains. Overnight lows will drop into the 30s in some valley and mountains areas, and the high 20s in the Antelope Valley. Similarly cold temperatures were in store all week.
A winter storm warning was issued from 4 p.m. Dec. 25 to 10 a.m. Dec. 26 for the Los Angeles County mountains—excluding the Santa Monica Range—where the snow level was expected to get as low as 3,500 feet, and 6 to 12 inches of snow were expected above 5,000 feet.
That warning was set to transition to a winter storm watch from late Dec. 26 to late Dec. 27, with heavy snow possible during the day on Dec. 27 and total snow accumulations of up to 10 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph, forecasters said.
The NWS said snow levels could drop below 2,500 feet on Dec. 28, with a dusting in the foothills.
The National Weather Service warned motorists of reduced visibility in areas with blowing snow, and said people should be prepared for dangerous winter driving conditions in the local mountains.
Another significant rainstorm is forecast for Dec. 27, with 1/2 to 1 inch of rain expected in a fast-moving system with the potential for more.
Forecasters said the next storm after that will affect the region from late Dec. 28 into Dec. 30, with another system quickly moving in from the north on Dec. 31.
New Year’s Day was shaping up to be dry but cool across the region, though the forecast could still change before then.
