Forecasters from the National Weather Service are keeping a careful watch over El Niño conditions as winter weather approaches Southern California; however officials are not sure what patterns will be presented.
Sponsored Articles
A storm is projected to hit the Santa Clarita Valley on Wednesday, and into early Thanksgiving Day, according to the National Weather Service. Santa Clarita residents may receive up to half an inch of rain overnight.
The NOAA’S Climate Prediction Service says that there is a very strong chance of an El Niño winter this year; however, the conditions themselves are very weak compared to previous years, according to officials.
The historic 2015 and 2016 El Niño storms defied expectations as one of the strongest years on record, but this year shows no sign of being anywhere near as powerful.
Despite being known as the cause of warm and wet winter storms, El Niño is not a guarantee of rain.
“Historically, there is no correlation either way between precipitation levels and the El Niño/La Niña,” said a representative for the National Weather Service. “This El Niño is fairly weak so we’re looking at precipitation levels that might be below-normal levels, normal or above-normal in the next few months.”
With California ravaged by drought and wildfires recently, rain may decrease the risk of fire, but too much rain may lead to landslides in burnt areas.
Although maintenance crews will continue to work to keep county roads open and county facilities functioning, mud and debris flows can have a devastating impact, including loss of life and home, according to officials.
Fire officials are warning residents who live near previously burned areas to be prepared with sandbags, and the possibility of evacuating if conditions are not safe.
For more information on how to prepare, visit the county website here.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com.Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.