Unusual Storm Brings Rain and Snow to California
A storm is currently affecting California, marking the end of the wet season. The weather system is bringing rain to the northern parts of the state and snow to the Sierra Nevada region. In Los Angeles, light rain is expected to arrive in time for the Tuesday afternoon commute.
Strong winds are also part of the storm’s impact. These gusts could pose challenges for drivers, particularly those operating high-profile vehicles such as large trucks. Wind speeds of up to 65 mph are possible on the desert slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains. In areas like Death Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass, wind speeds could reach 60 mph. Other regions, including the San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley, may experience gusts of up to 50 mph, while other parts of the area could see winds of 40 mph.
The National Weather Service office in Oxnard reported that the rainstorm is expected to bring between one-tenth to one-third of an inch of rain in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with peak rainfall occurring between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday. In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, rain was expected to arrive earlier, with half an inch to an inch of rain anticipated between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
There is a 20% to 42% chance of rain falling in Orange County, the Inland Empire, and coastal San Diego County on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Although a storm in mid-to-late April might seem unusual for California, it has occurred before. According to NWS meteorologist Lisa Phillips, a similar storm hit in mid-April 2024, and another in late April 2025 brought 0.22 inches of rain to downtown Los Angeles. So far this month, downtown L.A. has recorded 0.38 inches of rain, compared to an average of 0.55 inches for the first 20 days of the month.
“It’s definitely coming to the end of our rainy period,” Phillips said.
Further north, precipitation is expected to be more extensive. Northern California and the Central Valley could receive between half an inch to 1½ inches of rain from Monday through Wednesday. Some parts of the Sierra foothills might see two to three inches of rain. There is also a potential for thunderstorms with small hail.
The weather service office in Hanford issued a warning: “When thunder roars or you see a lightning flash: stop all outdoor activities; go inside a sturdy building; seek shelter in a hard-topped vehicle; wait for 30 minutes after the storm to go back outside.”
A winter storm watch is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening. Up to 2 feet of snow could fall at the highest peaks, with 12 to 18 inches expected at elevations of 5,000 feet above sea level. Travel across the Sierra could be very difficult or even impossible, with travel delays likely.
This water year has seen relatively average rainfall. Downtown Los Angeles has received 18.98 inches of rain since October 1, compared to an average of 13.53 inches at this point in the year. Downtown San Francisco has recorded 18.37 inches of rain, slightly below its average of 21.48 inches.
However, concerns have been raised about California experiencing its second-worst snow drought in 50 years. This is a sign of how rising temperatures from climate change are exacerbating long-term water supply issues in the West.
March was the hottest and driest March in California’s history, even hotter than average May conditions. This heat caused excessive melting of snow in the Sierra Nevada, leading to a significant loss of water that would otherwise be stored for later use. California traditionally relies on the Sierra snowpack to store about 30% of its water.
According to Peter Gleick, a leading water scientist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute, the heat and premature melting of the snowpack mean that the state’s forests will dry out a month earlier than usual, increasing the risk of wildfires.
While cities and farms may still have ample water due to nearly full reservoirs in Northern California, another major water source for Southern California, the Colorado River, has been affected by a long-lasting megadrought that began in 2000. This drought is considered the most severe in 1,200 years and has been intensified by global warming.
The Colorado River is home to the nation’s largest and second-largest reservoirs—Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, and Lake Powell, located on the Arizona-Utah border. The Trump administration has taken emergency measures to prevent the water level at Lake Powell from dropping too low. As of now, Lake Powell is only 23% full.
Measures include reducing the amount of water released from the reservoir, which flows down the Colorado River into Lake Mead and supplies water to Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Lake Mead was last full in 2000, and its water levels have steadily declined since then. It was 32% full as of Saturday. Experts believe that lakes Mead and Powell are unlikely to refill within our lifetimes.
“What we have in our reservoirs in California is all we’re going to get,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, earlier this year. “So it means every Californian needs to use water as carefully as they can.”
Times staff writers Sean Greene, Ian James, and Terry Castleman contributed to this report.
