LA's Wettest November Since the 1980s: Storms Cause Flooding and Snow

Widespread Flooding and Damage

• 🚗 Residents in Palms experienced significant flooding, with cars submerged two to three feet deep in an underground garage due to heavy overnight showers.
• 🚒 The Los Angeles Fire Department utilized heavy-duty pumps to remove water, but the extent of damage to the inundated vehicles remains unestimated.
• ⚠️ Heavy rain over a short period, combined with clogged storm drains from street leaves, contributed to the widespread flooding.

Storm Analysis and Impact

• 🌧️ November has been one of the wettest on record in Southern California, with a series of storms stressing burn scars across the area.
• ⚡ Storm number one, driven by a strong atmospheric river, caused debris flows on burn scars like the Palisade and Eaton, leading to evacuation warnings.
• 💧 The second storm, termed "the soaker," fell on already saturated hillsides, exacerbating street flooding and reactivating burn scar watch zones.
• 📈 The third and final storm, while not having the highest individual totals, arrived with a worst-case setup of saturated ground, leading to garage floods and downed trees.

Record Rainfall and Combined Impact

• 📊 Downtown LA surpassed three inches of rain for the month, more than four times its November normal, marking the wettest November since the 1980s.
• 🌊 The combined impact of the storms is the biggest takeaway, with saturated ground causing every additional tenth of an inch of rain to become runoff, increasing flash flood and debris flow risks.

Weather Shift and Forecast

• ☀️ The storm track is shifting north, signaling a drying and warming trend for the upcoming week, with dry and pleasant weather expected through Thanksgiving.
• 💨 Gusty Santa Ana winds are picking up on the back end of the storm system, with gusts over 20 mph in some areas, potentially contributing to downed trees.
• 🌡️ Temperatures are expected to be in the 50s in the mornings, rising to the 70s in the afternoons, with mostly sunny skies leading up to Thanksgiving.
• 🏔️ Some lingering light showers and snow are possible in far eastern areas and over mountains above 7,000 feet through tomorrow morning, but dry weather is forecast thereafter.