An ‘abnormal,’ monsoon-like weather pattern hits Southern California with an estimated 20 inches of rain in the past week.
The storm started as a “very large” low-pressure system that moved through the region Sunday, and was able to move northeastward along an area of low pressure that already had been weakened by dry conditions. Now, with the storm moving down from the north, there has been renewed concern about the potential for flooding, which is expected to continue on its long trek down the California coast.
Here are five reasons why this storm feels different from others in the past.
1. It’s coming down from the north
This storm has been moving down from the north, in the general direction of the San Francisco Bay Area, since Sunday, and is now about 100 miles from the coast. This is the first time that Southern California has been hit from the north with heavy rain from a system like this, but it also is probably the only time where this has happened in the past.
2. There are no hurricanes, typhoons or other strong tropical systems in the way
As the storm has moved directly overhead, and the low sheared off of a couple of warm fronts, there have been no other systems that may have caused the rain in Southern California that would have otherwise made for a bigger, more significant storm.
In fact, there hasn’t been much in the way of any other storms for the past few days in or near the storm’s path – all of the storms have been passing well inland of the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest.
3. There have been no major weather disruptions
There have been no major disruptions in California, as far as rain is concerned, on any of the major fronts that the storm has hit. The only major disruption has been to the weather across the southern U.S. since the storm has moved to the south.
4. It’s drier than normal
Over the past week, the region has seen a major drying trend – there have been very little rainfalls due to the storms. According to the National Weather Service, the current season in Southern California is the driest season on record.
5. It’s unlikely the region will see significant snowfall
While there has been considerable moisture coming down from the storm over the past week,