Tag Archive for: southern California

Bill to Create a Southern LA County Water Watchdog Puts Agencies on Edge

/in , /by /Press Telegramby Jason Henry

A proposal to create a watchdog for South Los Angeles County’s dozens of disjointed and struggling water systems has stirred fear among public agencies and companies further down the pipeline that they could be the target of hostile takeovers. AB 1195, introduced by Assemblywoman Christina Garcia, would establish the Southern Los Angeles County Regional Water Agency and grant it authority to assist failing water systems with aging infrastructure, or to take control if a system is no longer able to provide affordable, clean drinking water.

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California Gets Another Round of Late-Winter Rain and Snow

/in , /by /AP News

Another March storm moved through California on Monday, bringing snow to the Sierra Nevada, rain showers elsewhere and gale conditions offshore.

A mix of winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories stretched the length of the Sierra and southward into mountain ranges of Southern California that were just coated with snow last week.

Caltrans recommended motorists traveling through the Sierra check for chain requirements.

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Study: As Wildfires Increase, Southern California Could Face Landslides Almost Every Year

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby City News Service

Fire-prone areas of Southern California can expect to see landslides occurring almost every year, with major events expected roughly every 10 years, a new study found.

The results show residents face a double whammy of increased wildfire and landslide risk caused by climate change-induced shifts in the state’s wet and dry seasons, according to researchers who mapped landslide vulnerability in the southern half of the state.

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Why It’s Way Too Early to Worry About Rain Deficits in SoCal

/in , , /by /Spectrum News 1 Los Angelesby Jacqueline Bennett

Yes, it’s been pretty dry so far this winter, but there is no need to worry. The major winter storm that roared through Southern California Monday proved we can erase a month’s worth of rain deficit in one day. I recently explained how the climate where we live — the Mediterranean Climate — sees the majority of its annual rainfall in the winter months. In fact, a whopping 80% of Southern California’s annual rain and snow falls from December through March.

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Southern California Experiences La Niña-Related Dry Spell

/in , /by /The Malibu Timesby Genevieve Finn

Barely any rain and it’s already mid-December? Malibu is experiencing drought conditions—but a drought it is not. That’s a key difference: a “drought” can actually only be declared by the Governor of California; his declaration releases key relief funding for several agencies. “Drought conditions,” on the other hand, is a classification that marks a series of factors that could lead to a drought down the line. 

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Santa May Not Need the Heavy Red Coat When He Visits Southern California

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

Santa might be able to lose the heavy red coat when he makes his rounds in the Southland, and he probably won’t need an umbrella either.

The extended outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration favors above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation in the Los Angeles region from Dec. 24 through Dec. 30.

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Southern California is in for a Reprieve from Dangerous Fire Weather

/in , /by /Los Angeles Times by Hayley Smith

Southern Californians are in for a reprieve from dangerous fire weather that plagued the region for more than a week, with lower temperatures and moister air in the forecast — though still no rain.

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Why Winter Wildfires May Get Worse

/in , /by /Scientific Americanby Chelsea Harvey

A late-season flurry of flames is sweeping Southern California, driven by high-speed winds surging down the mountains toward the coast. The Bond Fire, which ignited Thursday, has burned more than 7,000 acres and was 50% contained as of last night. Authorities warn that a combination of strong winds and warm, dry weather could increase the risk of more blazes this week.

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SoCal is Likely to See a Dry La Niña Winter, New Data Show

/in , /by /ABC7by Rob Hayes

Amid California’s worst fire season in history, climate experts are predicting hot and dry conditions this winter. “On average there will be less moisture than we would normally receive here in California,” says Dr. Lowell Stott, a professor of earth sciences at the University of Southern California.

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Dry Heat, Wet Feet: Record Temperatures and King Tides Collide in Southern California

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Hayley Smith

Towering high tides hitting the Southern California coast were met with record-high temperatures Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The astronomical tides, known as king tides, occur when the moon is closest to Earth and are often the highest tides of the year, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Combined with high surf, king tides can bring tidal overflows, minor beach erosion and an increased risk of drowning.

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