Throughout the first half of 2022, California and most of the Southwest have been subjected to temperatures much above normal and extremely dry conditions. AccuWeather forecasters, on the other hand, believe that the prediction will undergo significant changes by the weekend.
Los Angeles to Experience Rainfall
In the Southwest, the month of March began with no rain and record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday. However, forecasters are anticipating a major shift in the weather pattern by the end of this week, according to AccuWeather.
Drought Monitor data shows that more than 60% of the West is suffering extreme drought conditions. Since a wet December, there hasn't been much in the way of rain or snow in the mountains.
A scant 0.13 of an inch of rain has fallen on Los Angeles International Airport since the beginning in 2022, which is just 2 percent of the city's regular rainfall in the first two months of the year, said Weather forecaster Jessica Storm of AccuWeather, who added that roughly 6 inches of rain occurs in the city during this time period.
By Thursday night, a lull in the jet stream that will be offshore will be passing over California and affecting the Golden State. For the first time in a long time, the recent record-breaking warmth will come to an abrupt end. According to Storm, rain is expected to begin falling in Los Angeles on Thursday night and end by Friday night.
On Friday, the rain is expected to be the heavy. Thunderstorms are likely, and minor hail is even possible in some of the heaviest showers due to the cold upper-atmosphere air.
Localized flooding may occur as a result of the rain, which is welcome and much-needed, but it is possible that the rain may fall heavily early on Friday.
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Possible Drop in Temperatures
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, coastal parts of Southern California are expected to receive between 0.25 and 0.50 inches of rain late this week.
Some of the west- and southwest-facing mountains near the coast can receive up to an inch of rain, he warned.
There is a general 0.50 of an inch to 1 inch anticipated for central and northern California from the coast to the Sierra Nevada, with local amounts nearing 2 inches on certain west- and southwest-facing mountains.
On February 15, 0.06 of an inch of rain was recorded in Downtown Los Angeles. Cold air may be shocking to some after a prolonged period of above-average temperatures.
As of this weekend, Temperatures and freezing levels are projected to plunge over Southern California by the weekend, with evening temperatures in the lower 40s Fahrenheit for Downtown Los Angeles both Saturday night and Sunday night, Storm said.
Temperatures in Los Angeles are expected to fall below freezing on both nights of this weekend. Record low temperatures have been in place since the 1800s on March 5 and 6, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski stated.
Some Regions May Experience Snow
A low of 41 degrees is expected on Saturday night, according to AccuWeather, which would be close to the record low of 39 degrees set way back in 1882. The predicted low temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday night will equal the previous record set in 1893, as per Yahoo News.
Snow will fall at extremely low altitudes due to the lower freezing levels. A slushy buildup on a portion of Interstate 5 known as the Grapevine is possible late Friday night to early Saturday morning, but snow is not expected to fall in Los Angeles. Just over a week ago, the road was closed for a brief period of time due to a rainstorm.
Even further north, the central and northern Sierra can expect anything from six to twelve inches of snowfall with the possibility of even more in higher elevation areas such as mountain passes.
There will also be a drastic shift in the cities located further inland. On Friday and Saturday, temperatures in Las Vegas will rise to the high 50s and lower 60s, with isolated showers.
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