Rain and Beach Hazards Expected in Southern California

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Rain is expected in Southern California from Wednesday to Thursday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings about possible beach hazards and thunderstorms from Oxnard down to the Mexico border.

The Los Angeles-Oxnard office of the weather service predicts a 30% to 40% chance of thunderstorms. Minor flooding and concerns about debris flow could affect Los Angeles and Ventura counties. While most areas might face only minor issues, the Santa Monica Mountains are at higher risk for flooding. This risk is especially relevant for areas with first-year burn scars, like the Palisades and Altadena, which recently experienced wildfires.

Regarding rainfall, the NWS in Los Angeles anticipates these amounts of rain from Wednesday to Thursday:

Thousand Oaks: 1.73 inches
Oxnard: 1.53 inches
Santa Clarita: 1.47 inches
LAX: 1.31 inches
Covina: 1.29 inches
Long Beach: Just under 1 inch

Beaches in Los Angeles County and the Oxnard region are expected to experience surf ranging from 3 to 6 feet through Thursday night, particularly on south- and southwest-facing beaches. Tides will likely vary between 5.5 and 6.2 feet.

The weather service’s San Diego office, responsible for Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties, issued a beach hazard warning on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. This notice, effective until 11 p.m., warns of dangerous rip currents and breaking waves, with surf also reaching 3 to 6 feet. These conditions are particularly hazardous on south- and southwest-facing beaches.

The NWS San Diego advises swimmers and surfers to exercise caution. Rip currents might drag them out to sea, and waves can displace people from beaches and rocks or capsize small boats near the shore. To avoid these risky swimming conditions, the NWS suggests staying out of the water.

The chances of rain on Wednesday morning and afternoon are estimated at: