After weeks of dry weather that contributed to the spread numerous deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Southern California is finally getting some rain thanks to a slow-moving low-pressure system that will linger over the Southwest, bringing showers through the beginning of the week.
The system is also bringing Las Vegas the possibility of its first measurable rainfall since July. Phoenix could see its first measurable rainfall since August.
The rain Sunday in central and Southern California started with showers that were expected to grow into a downpour in the afternoon. The heaviest rain is expected overnight and will gradually lighten until it stops Monday afternoon.
More than 0.1 inches of rain have fallen in the Los Angeles metro area, with some of the foothills reporting 0.25 to 0.5 inches as of 11 a.m. PT.
Videos on social media showed cars driving through a downpour in the Hollywood Hills on Sunday. Another video showed rain falling over La Mesa, California, as the person shooting the video cheered.
The system will move into Arizona on Monday, bringing the bulk of snow and rain showers east. Scattered rain showers will persist across Nevada and Arizona through Tuesday.
While most of this rainfall will be beneficial for a very parched Southwest, any heavier showers that fall over the fresh burn scars could lead to flash flooding, debris flows and mudslides.
Flood alerts are in effect for areas with burn scars from the Palisades, Hughes and Eaton fires, upward of 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Locally, 2 inches can’t be ruled out.
Los Angeles has only had 0.03 inches of rain since Oct. 1, making this the driest season to date and 5 inches behind the average.
Scattered rain and snow was also falling on Southern California and Nevada on Sunday afternoon, with winter weather alerts in effect for parts of California, Arizona and Nevada.
Snowfall totals in the area through Monday will generally range from 2 to 10 inches, with localized amounts over 18 inches in places including the Southern California ranges. It will also be very windy, with gusts up to 50 mph creating hazardous travel conditions.
Elsewhere in the country, lake effect snow warnings remain through Monday for northern New York, where the most persistent bands will produce 9 to 18 inches of snow.
In the Great Lakes region, wind alerts will be in effect through Monday for Illinois through New York — including the cities of Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Buffalo and Rochester — with gusts that may exceed 40-60 mph.
