A New Year’s Day storm dumped enough rain on Southern California to topple some daily precipitation records, part of a broader pattern of above‑average rainfall that has left the region soggy heading into the first week of 2026.
The holiday season has been marked by a series of storms, and meteorologists say more is on the way.
The Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties can expect intermittent rain as a series of storms comes in from the Pacific Ocean, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Bob Larson said.
The biggest impacts, he said, may be felt further up the coast, with “steady or heavy rains over Central and particularly Northern California, and that’s going to translate to some very heavy snow over the Sierra (Nevada),” he said.
Larson said Southern California may not necessarily see an “extraordinary” amount of rain, but two separate storms will pass through the area.
“I think it’s just going to be a stray shower Friday, but those showers probably become more widespread on Saturday, especially in the afternoon and evening, and then maybe another round of more enhanced showers that could be briefly heavy later (on) Sunday,” Larson said.
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The Jan. 1 downpour set several daily records around California, some dating back to the 1800s, according to data from the National Weather Service.
San Diego recorded 2.07 inches of rain, breaking the previous January 1 record of 1.6 inches set in 1855 and tied in 1875.
The NWS reported a record rainfall of 1.32 inches at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, surpassing the 2006 record of 0.35 inches. A 1982 record of 0.6 inches of rainfall was also broken at the Long Beach Airport, with 1.11 inches.
Meanwhile, John Wayne Airport recorded 0.31 inches of rain, breaking its previous January 1 record of 0.13 inches in 2006. However, NWS meteorologist Chandler Price cautioned that the rain gauge at the airport may have underreported the total rainfall.
Also, Ontario International Airport received 0.86 inches of rain, surpassing the previous Jan. 1 record of 0.22 inches set in 2023.
Larson advised Southern California residents to expect travel delays as they enter the weekend, even though heavy rain is not predicted.
“It’s not as though we’re worried about widespread, substantial impacts … But I would at least be prepared for some localized flooding, airport drainage areas and whatnot,” he said.
Price described the early-week forecast for Orange County and the Inland Empire as a “rinse and repeat” of the weekend, with periods of light to moderate rainfall continuing Monday and possibly Tuesday.
In San Bernardino County, communities that were hit hard by flooding during earlier storms are expected to see lighter rainfall this weekend. Wrightwood could receive between about one-tenth and one-quarter inch of rain Saturday and Sunday, while Lytle Creek is forecast to see less than one-tenth of an inch on both days.
Los Angeles County has a similar outlook, according to the NWS. There is a chance of rain through Tuesday, though rainfall amounts are expected to be lighter after the weekend, meteorologist Lisa Phillips said. Total rainfall through Sunday is projected to reach about 1 to 2 inches across Los Angeles County, with up to 3 inches possible in the mountains, she said.
But the rainy forecast can mean potential mud and debris flows, especially in recent burn areas.
On Friday evening, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said evacuation warnings would go into effect on Saturday at 10 a.m. in places including burn scars in the Hurst fire and Mandeville areas.
To see which addresses are affected by evacuation warnings and orders there and elsewhere, check the map at protectgenasys.com/search.
Staff writer Madison Hart contributed to this report.
