Record-breaking heat Sunday will turn to rain storms as early as Tuesday for LA, OC, Inland Empire – Daily News


Record-breaking heat Sunday will turn to rain storms as early as Tuesday for LA, OC, Inland Empire – Daily News

The heat wave that baked Southern California over the weekend led to broken temperature records in some areas, but forecasters said the region should get some relief by the middle of this week.

The National Weather Service warned of extreme fire weather through Monday as hot and dry conditions persist. That should end starting Tuesday at the earliest, when rain, and even snow in some places, are expected to sweep through the area.

The heaviest rain could fall in eastern Los Angeles County, across all of Orange County and in western San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Forecasters said all of those areas could see between a half inch to an inch of rain by Friday.

This will be the first rainfall of the season, NWS meteorologists said. While the rains will bring cooler temperatures, the NWS warned of possible hazards.

“A cold upper level low pressure will bring the potential for light to moderate rain to the region,” NWS meteorologists in Los Angeles wrote. “Slick roadways with a slow commute is one of the possible impacts.”

Snow could hit mountainous areas above 6,000 feet, according to the NWS. Forecasters said motorists should watch out for large build-ups of snow in mountain passes that could affect travel.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the NWS wrote in their weather alert. “Anyone hiking or engaging in other outdoor mountain recreation will be at risk of being trapped by the sudden change in weather.”

Still, the rain will bring needed relief for parched areas of Southern California most at risk of wildfires.

The NWS issued red-flag warnings for much of L.A., Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties over the weekend. Gusty winds, high temperatures between the high 80s and low 90s, and humidity levels between 8 and 15 percent in most areas will lead to continued critical fire weather through Monday.

Temperatures on Sunday broke daily records across the region.

In Camarillo, temperatures reached 94 degrees, breaking an 87-year-old record of 92 degrees.

Downtown L.A. reached 92 degrees, breaking a record of 91 degrees. In Long Beach, temperatures reached 91 degrees, breaking a record of 89 degrees. Both of those records were set in 2008.

Temperatures in Riverside (90) and Santa Ana (94) broke records, respectively, of 89 and 93 degrees set in 1949. Temperatures in Anaheim (94) broke the 90 degree record set in 2008.

In San Jacinto (89) and Palm Springs (92), temperatures tied the 2008 records.

Looking ahead at the rains, NWS offered a bright spot in the forecast — meteorologists said there was little risk this week of major flooding.

Communities where fires left huge burn scars across thousands of acres were inundated earlier this year when rains led to debris flows and flooding in water channels. But the NWS said this week’s rains would not reach the same levels.

“These rain totals look to be pretty widespread and beneficial,” NWS meteorologists in San Diego said, “so flash flood risk remains low at this time.”




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