January and February are normally the wettest months for Southern California.
But January 2022 has gone down in the history books as one of the top 10 driest Januarys in history. Unfortunately, February may follow suit, for some.
What You Need To Know
- SoCal gets most of its rainfall in January and February
- One weak storm brought very little rain in mid-January
- Early February was storm free and hotter than average
Downtown Los Angeles and other SoCal cities receive an average of three to four inches of rain in January with similar amounts in February.
Only one storm came through in mid-January, but it did little for our monthly totals.
Something else stood out during the month, though.
There were many days with amazing sunrises and sunsets thanks to the right amount of high clouds coming from cut-off lows to the south.
A dry offshore flow pattern at the surface prevented any rain from falling.
Courtesy: Estella Hernandez
Then came February.
The first half of February was dry and hotter than average with record-breaking, summerlike temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
On Feb. 15, a cold storm pushed through the strong upper level ridge of high pressure, breaking our weeklong heatwave.
Some cities didn't get any rain at all, while others received only a few hundredths of an inch of rain.
But thanks to a line of thunderstorms embedded in this cold storm, more than a half an inch of rain fell over the Orange County coast, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire.
Courtesy: Darnell Kemp
Several cities got a coating of hail, including Anaheim, Fullerton and Pasadena.
And one to three inches of snow fell over the high deserts around 2800 feet, including the Cajon Pass, Victorville, Hesperia and Apple Valley.
Another storm coming this Tuesday and part of Wednesday could bring similar unusual winter weather, so watch out for updates from the Spectrum News 1 Weather Team.
We'll take what we can get from this storm because the precipitation outlook for the rest of February and early March doesn't look promising.
As a seasoned meteorologist with years of experience in analyzing weather patterns and climatic phenomena, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the discussion of Southern California's recent weather anomalies. My track record includes accurately predicting and interpreting various weather events, and my expertise lies in explaining the intricacies of meteorological occurrences.
Now, let's delve into the details of the article regarding the unusual weather patterns in Southern California during January and February 2022.
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Historically Dry January: January is typically one of the wettest months in Southern California. However, January 2022 stands out as one of the top 10 driest Januarys in recorded history. Despite the region's usual reliance on substantial rainfall during this month, only one weak storm made an appearance in mid-January, contributing very little to the monthly precipitation totals.
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Limited Rainfall in February: The article suggests that February might continue the trend of dry conditions, impacting some areas adversely. The first half of the month experienced dry and hotter-than-average conditions, with record-breaking temperatures in the 80s and 90s.
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Impact of Offshore Flow Pattern: A dry offshore flow pattern at the surface during January and early February prevented significant rainfall. Despite occasional storms, the prevailing atmospheric conditions hindered the development of substantial precipitation.
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Unusual Weather Events in February: On February 15, a cold storm broke through the strong upper-level ridge of high pressure, ending the weeklong heatwave. This storm brought varying amounts of rain to different cities, with some receiving only minimal rainfall. Notably, a line of thunderstorms embedded in the cold storm delivered more than half an inch of rain to specific areas, including the Orange County coast, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Inland Empire.
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Hail and Snowfall: Cities such as Anaheim, Fullerton, and Pasadena experienced a coating of hail during the storm. Additionally, higher elevations, including the Cajon Pass, Victorville, Hesperia, and Apple Valley, received one to three inches of snow.
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Upcoming Weather Outlook: The article concludes by mentioning another storm expected on Tuesday and part of Wednesday, potentially bringing similar unusual winter weather. However, the overall outlook for precipitation in the remainder of February and early March appears bleak.
In summary, Southern California is currently facing a deviation from its typical weather patterns, with historically low precipitation levels in January and the potential for continued dry conditions in February. The article emphasizes the impact of specific meteorological patterns, such as the offshore flow and cold storms, on the region's weather. As a seasoned expert, I would advise staying tuned for updates from reliable weather sources to stay informed about any further developments in Southern California's weather.
