Atmospheric River Bringing Heavy Rain to Southern California and Heavy Snow to the Sierra Nevadas

A strong atmospheric river will continue heavy rain over southern California through Friday. The heaviest rainfall is ongoing today in the Los Angeles Basin. Flash and urban flooding is possible. A prolonged heavy snowfall has begun over the Sierra Nevada Mountains and will continue through Friday. Travel will become increasingly difficult over the passes due to snow and strong winds. Read More >

August temperatures hovered around average, but rainfall was quite a bit below average at all climate sites. The lack of rain caused drought conditions to worsen, with some areas experiencing extreme to exceptional drought and at least moderate to severe drought persisting across most of the region. Rivers and streams remain around to below average as a result and soils remain dry.

CPC outlooks suggest that warm and dry conditions may persist through the remainder of September, with equal chances for above, below, or around average temperatures for the next three months going into fall. There is some signal for below normal precipitation in the next three months.

NOTE: No records were tied or broken at any climate site in August 2023.