California – Rain taps against windows and pools along curbs this morning as the final wave of a stubborn storm pushes through Southern California. Wet pavement, low clouds, and bursts of heavier rain are shaping early travel, especially across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, before a noticeable break arrives for the first full weekend of winter.
According to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard, a Flood Watch remains in effect through this afternoon for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. Periods of moderate to heavy rain may trigger flooding in low-lying areas, recent burn scars, and along small creeks. Gusty coastal winds and isolated thunderstorms add to the risk near beaches and canyon roads.
Across the Los Angeles Basin, drivers should expect ponding on major routes including I-5, I-10, and U.S. 101 during heavier bursts of rain. Hillside communities from the Santa Monica Mountains to the San Gabriels face an elevated mudslide threat. Emergency managers urge residents to avoid flooded roads and remain alert for rapid changes, especially through midday.
Conditions steadily improve as drier air filters in later today. The weekend brings brighter skies, cooler mornings, and improving travel statewide. That calm sets the stage for heavy holiday traffic and end-of-year trips. Looking ahead, meteorologists are tracking a midweek pattern change. Cooler air arrives by Wednesday, December 31, raising questions about rain returning around New Year’s Eve, though impacts remain uncertain.
For now, keep umbrellas handy, plan extra travel time early, and stay weather-aware as California transitions from flood concerns to a quieter, cooler close to 2025. Traveling this weekend? Share what conditions look like where you are.
Five-Day Outlook for Los Angeles, California
- Today: Periods of rain, locally heavy early; highs near the low 60s. Flooding risk through afternoon.
- Saturday: Clearing skies, cooler and drier; highs near 60.
- Sunday: Sunny and calm; highs in the low 60s, cool morning lows.
- Monday: Continued dry weather; highs mid-60s, good travel conditions.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny early, increasing clouds later; cooler air edging in ahead of New Year’s Eve.
