More significant rainfall is moving into an already rain-soaked Southern California on Sunday.
Less than two weeks after a historic storm dropped between 6 and 14 inches of rain across the Southland and caused flooding and mudslides, the latest soaking is expected to last several days.
“This second system will stick around into Wednesday,” the National Weather Service said. “It will bring periods of heavy rain, gusty winds, cooler temperatures, high elevation snow and a slight chance of thunderstorms.”
A Weather Service chart shows the storm’s peak intensity will be Sunday night through Monday with 2 and 5 inches of rain likely across most of the L.A. Basin. Foothills and mountain areas could get upwards of 6 inches of rain.
Although the upcoming storm isn’t expected to bring the same amount of rainfall to Southern California as the previous one, NWS meteorologist David Gomberg says it still poses a threat.
“Even though the rainfall totals aren’t as significant as last week, we could see some fairly high-intensity rainfall,” he said. “That presents its own risk as well. Kind of a shorter duration, higher intensity with any potential thunderstorm activity, or just even heavier shower activity.”
Flood watches have been issued for much of the region.
Gomberg adds that the biggest concern for the region is that the soil in the ground is still very saturated.
“There hasn’t been enough time related to do much drying, so we are more vulnerable than normal,” Gomberg added. “It’s not going to take as much rain, in terms of amount or intensity to cause some additional issues.”
The heavy rainfall that has hit Southern California in recent weeks is still causing lingering trouble. On top of the damaging mudslides and debris flow, potholes and even sinkholes have opened up on many roads.
Gomberg says that the prime rain season in SoCal is between December and March, with February bringing the wettest weather than in past years. But, there is a big difference this winter.
“We are in the middle of a fairly strong El Niño signature,” Gomberg said. “That tends to slant the odds toward heavier rainfall for Southern California, and so far, that seems to be working out pretty well.”