Recipe for Heavy Rain
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A vast, oval shaped storm system stretching from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California is dumping heavy rain and snow along the entire West Coast. *
1. The storm is being intensified by two dierging branches of the high- altitude jet stream winds that are bringing in warm, moist air from the central Pacific.
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2. As the branches diverge, they accelerate and intensify their lifting effect on the moist air below, leading to the formation of storm clouds. *
3. The storm system contains two low- pressure systems, with a cold front a its leading edge. *
Why All the Rain As the air rises, it cools and the moisture condenses, creating the clouds from which the rain and snow are falling. *
Selected Rainfall Totals The storms that began arriving a week ago dropped more than nine inches of rain in some Southland communities, and more heavy rain is expected today. Here’s a look at this January’s rainfall through Sunday. *
Inches Civic Center 5.17 Glendora 8.16 Long Beach 9.43 Newhall 6.64 Santa Monica 9.16
Sources: WeatherDATA, National Weather Service Researched by Cecillia Rasmussen / Los Angeles Times
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