Rain totals bumped, timing dialed in for Southern California’s 1st winter storm

The wait is finally over. Southern California is set to receive its first winter storm of the season and forecasters are bumping up the amount of rain expected with the system.

“Beginning Saturday morning, we’ll see mostly cloudy skies and breezy conditions, and then in the afternoon, we’ll see increasing chances of rain kicking off a roughly 48-hour period of rain showers,” KTLA’s Kirk Hawkins said Friday.

The National Weather Service says the storm is moving “a little slower and is a little wetter” than initially forecast with most of the rain expected to fall on Sunday.

Areas of Los Angeles County will likely see about three-quarters of an inch of rain with up to an inch-and-a-half possible. The San Gabriel foothill areas could see more than 2 inches of rain, according to the Weather Service. Forecasts earlier in the week called for closer to one-quarter of an inch of rain across Los Angeles County.

While the long-awaited storm is a welcome sight, there is concern about the potential for mudslides in the recent burn areas. The Weather Service is hopeful that rain rates will remain low enough to protect those areas.

“These light rain rates will be very beneficial to the fire weather danger while also remaining under the intensity needed to cause debris flows in the recent fire areas,” the Weather Service stated.

There is a small chance for thunderstorms to bring isolated brief heavy rain and a moderate risk of small hail.

Snow levels are expected to be rather low with a wide band of cold air moving in along with the storm.

Significant accumulations are likely above 6,000 feet with some snow falling as low as 4,000 feet, according to the Weather Service.

While the majority of the storm’s impact is expected to be felt on Sunday there is a chance for continuing showers on Monday with dry and cool weather expected the rest of the week.

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