An ‘abnormal,’ monsoon-like weather pattern hits Southern California, as warm Pacific waters and a strong El Niño bring El Niño conditions to Southern California, July 1 to August 13. Extreme weather events include heavy downpours, strong heat waves, wildfires and flooding.
The El Niño weather pattern is in Southern California, and it is bringing extreme weather to the region.
Southern California is experiencing hot and dry weather, with temperatures in the single digits or below, and widespread power outages. The region has been gripped by wildfires, which are being fueled by dry conditions and extreme wind gusts.
The El Niño weather pattern is creating extreme weather conditions in Southern California and across the West. (Photo: NOAA)
According to the National Weather Service’s Southern California forecast office, the warm waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean will not cool off in time for summer in Southern California, and the combination of El Niño and a strong wind event will produce record-breaking heat across the region.
In the days following the onset of El Niño in July, Southern California residents have endured record-breaking heat and record-breaking rainfall. The area has experienced record-high temperatures, including 101 degrees in Lake Elsinore and 99 degrees in Indio, as well as record-high rainfall.
The extreme weather conditions are occurring in Southern California, and are affecting areas around the world, including in Hawaii – where heavy rainfall has fallen in record-breaking amounts.
The heat wave is occurring during the hottest time of the year, and with temperatures over 95 degrees, temperatures in the area are not expected to top out until September at the earliest.
The rainfall total for the month of July is the most in the state since record-keeping began in 1895. California has had between 17 and 24 inches of rain in July, the most precipitation on record for that month, the National Weather Service said.
“There’s not going to be any relief until fall,” said Pat Kinser, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
The heat wave and El Ninos across Southern California and the West are also creating record-breaking fire activity