Global Courant 2023-05-04 04:59:41
Southern California is expected to be hit by a rare storm Wednesday night in May, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm is expected to continue through Thursday morning, with a slight chance of drizzle Saturday morning as a low-pressure system lingers in the area, said Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“This is one of the weaker storms,” Lund said. “It’s unusual because of the time of year. Since it’s May, we don’t normally see many storms like this. It’s nothing compared to the storms of January 9 and 10, when we had that widespread flooding and debris flows.”
Precipitation totals are expected to range from a half inch to an inch along the coast and valleys, while the foothills and mountains can reach 1 to 2 inches.
Snow levels can reach up to about 4,000 to 4,500 feet; areas with elevations above 6,000 feet can see 4 to 8 inches of snow, with localized areas getting 14 inches.
There is some instability with the storm and about a 20% chance of thunder, according to Lund. Local heavy showers can last up to 15 minutes and include hail and graupel. The wind can range from 30 mph to 40 mph.
The weather service warned of flooding on the road and driving could be dangerous due to wet roads. Winter driving conditions are also possible above an elevation of 6,000 feet.
Lund said the storms should push back the start of the fire season, which usually begins in late summer for Southern California. During the spring, the flowers draw water from the soil moisture that contributes to the surface, further dampening fuels.
“It will help as we head into the drier season,” she said. “We will definitely have a later fire season than expected.”
