Subj : HVYRAIN: Excessive Rainfa To : All From : Mike Powell Date : Thu Jan 01 2026 09:23:10 FOUS30 KWBC 010803 QPFERD Excessive Rainfall Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 303 AM EST Thu Jan 1 2026 Day 1 Valid 12Z Thu Jan 01 2026 - 12Z Fri Jan 02 2026 ....THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA... A 500mb trough with a small, yet potent, closed circulation will become part of a negatively tilted 200-500mb upper-trough axis that is partially responsible for the slug of highly anomalous moisture that will engulf much of the West today. The focus remains on Southern California where the Transverse Ranges soils remain quite sensitive in wake of last week's significant flooding. IVT values are encroaching upon 500 kg/m/s and embedded within SSWrly flow that is aligned orthogonally to the Transverse Ranges. Additional forcing will be located along the frontal boundary that will trigger additional convection over the East Pacific upon approach. PWATs are forecast to be just over 1.25" off the Southern California coast through this morning, but around 18Z, a dryslot in the 700-300mb layer should result in the conclusion of today's heaviest rainfall. Some lingering heavy rainfall may be possible in the Peninsular Range east of San Diego beyond 18Z, but most rainfall around the L.A. region should be just about over (aside from lingering upslope into the Transverse Ranges). Latest HREF guidance does show minor instability present (<250 J/kg on average) between 09-18Z, which may be just enough when taking into account sensitive soils to result in additional flash flooding in not just the Transverse Ranges, but also the greater Los Angeles metro area as well. The new 00Z HREF 24-hour QPF probabilities for surpassing 3" of rainfall peaks around 50% over the San Bernadino and low chances (15-25) for localized totals eclipsing 5". Snow levels remain very high, making just about all of the expected QPF to be in the form of rain. The lack of higher- end instability is what is keeping the Slight Risk in place, but make no mistake-- there remains a heightened risk for flash flooding this morning in Southern CA with rock slides and debris flows in/around burn scars possible, including urbanized flash flooding. Farther north, most area have recovered a bit better from last week's significant rainfall, but the copious amounts of moisture combined with sufficient synopitc-scale forcing aloft and supportive upslope flow along the Coastal Range and as far inland as the Sierra Nevada does suggest a Marginal Risk for flash flooding is still warranted. The 00Z HREF does show a small area between Santa Maria and Big Sur where MUCAPE >250 J/kg could materialize between 15-18Z and foster more potent instantaneous rainfall rates as convection moves through. Still, the line of showers and thunderstorms would be progressive and keep the flash flooding potential to a very localized area. Mullinax Day 2 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 02 2026 - 12Z Sat Jan 03 2026 ....THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA... An expansive upper level cutoff low over the Pacific well west of the northern California coast will approach the northern California coast Friday night. The occluded front wrapping around a surface low will be the primary forcing for heavy rainfall into northern California Friday night. The occluded front will turn the flow a bit more onshore (southeast before the front to south-southwest behind it). This will allow the coastal ranges to upslope some of that moisture, locally enhancing rainfall rates, particularly into the northern Coastal Ranges and the Klamath Mountains. Some heavy rain may impact the Bay area and the coastal ranges south from there in the waning couple hours of the period, assuming the timing of the front moving into the coast remains unchanged. IVT values between 500 and 750 kg/ms are far from impressive, and moisture anomalies rise to around 2 sigma above normal, a common occurrence in this part of the world, especially the past few weeks. Thus, with the rainfall event just getting going, coming in in the middle of the night, and with less-than-impressive dynamics, the Marginal Risk for much of the central and northern California coast remains largely unchanged with this update, and the Marginal looks on track. Wegman Day 3 Valid 12Z Sat Jan 03 2026 - 12Z Sun Jan 04 2026 ....THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA... A series of upper level disturbances rotating around a large upper level low will impact much of California and the West Coast this weekend. With each upper level disturbance, there will be a commensurate surface front that also makes its way ashore into northern California. The result will be an almost non-stop rain, especially for upslope areas on southerly flow, as well as for all of the coastal ranges. That said, each disturbance will briefly increase rainfall rates, with those rates decreasing back down in between disturbances. Thus, Saturday's rain looks to be a long- duration relatively light (for most areas) rain, rather than there being big concerns on any one area seeing prolonged heavy rain. Given the area's good ability to drain rainwater quickly, a Marginal Risk remains in effect for northern California. The area will continue to be monitored for a possible Slight Risk upgrade with future updates. 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