California Rain Totals 2017: A Glimpse into the Region's Weather Patterns

As we approach the end of the year, Californians are bracing themselves for another round of rain in the region. The latest weather forecast suggests that a trough will move through the area between Christmas and New Year's Day, bringing with it a chance of more rain on December 27th.

Looking ahead to Saturday, the main area of low pressure is expected to pass over Southern California on Friday night, bringing cold air into the region. As this colder air moves across the region, it will lower snow levels, possibly as low as 6,000-6,500 feet at times, which could lead to some localized snowfall.

Rainfall amounts from this next system are expected to be greater than previous ones, with up to 3-4 inches of rain expected for Wednesday through Friday night. Along with the rain, there is also a chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday.

The first system will be with us until Saturday morning, after which we can expect a brief clearing period before another system moves into our area on Wednesday. The freezing levels are expected to remain above 7,000 feet, so snowfall will likely be limited to the highest peaks above that elevation.

As this first system moves through the area tomorrow and Tuesday, clouds will start to increase starting from the 20,000-foot level, eventually lowering to our level (4,500 feet) by Wednesday morning as the atmosphere becomes more saturated. However, PWAT values will not be particularly impressive locally due to the dry air mass over the area currently.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be relatively weak, with most of the energy and moisture from this system staying north of our area. There is a 30% chance of scattered showers tomorrow, increasing to 50% overnight and Tuesday. Rain will eventually spread south as far as Point Conception by late afternoon or early evening.

In the meantime, today offers high clouds, cool temperatures, and some nice weather before we enter another period of rain. The sunrise this morning was truly spectacular! If you'd like to support my website and keep up-to-date with the latest California weather news, please visit our donation page. Have a great day and stay dry!

California rain totals 2017