Los Angeles, California – An unusually wet stretch of weather has soaked Southern California since the holiday period, delivering widespread rainfall totals that stand out for early January, especially across mountain and foothill communities north of Los Angeles.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Los Angeles and Oxnard, a series of Pacific storm systems over the past two weeks has brought impressive rain totals across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. The Transverse Ranges have emerged as the wettest areas, with several mountain locations recording more than 15 inches of rain, and isolated spots topping 20 inches during the 14-day period.
Lower elevations and coastal communities also saw beneficial rainfall, generally ranging from 4 to 8 inches, including parts of the Los Angeles Basin, the Santa Monica Mountains, and coastal Ventura County. Interior valleys such as the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley picked up moderate totals, helping improve soil moisture after a dry start to the season.
Emergency managers note that while the rainfall has eased immediate drought concerns, saturated soils in foothill and burn-scar areas remain sensitive. Residents near canyon roads and steep terrain are urged to stay alert for debris flows during any additional rain.
The active pattern is expected to quiet down for now, but officials stress that more storms remain possible later this winter. Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring local updates, especially if additional rain systems approach Southern California in the coming weeks.
