HAPPINESS

IS A WARM CUP

February 25, 2020, 6:30 AM PST

Southern California Overview:

Fair and warmer weather is expected this week under building high pressure and offshore flow. Gusty east to northeast winds are expected through passes and along coastal foothill areas through Thursday morning. A cooling trend this weekend will precede a storm Sunday into Monday. Showers are expected in all areas along with strong onshore winds in the mountains and deserts.

United States Overview:

February ending with a winter storm across the Great Lakes region.

Heavy snow in the mountains that began on 2/20 and ended on this day brought snow depths approaching the greatest depths on record. Strong storm winds caused outages of telephone service, power, and gas. The two-day rainfall total (2/24 and this day) in Santa Ana was an astounding 5.60 inches. Two-day totals were 11.13 inches in Big Bear Lake and 11.72 inches in Palomar Mountain. 6.43 inches fell on this day in Big Bear Lake, the greatest daily amount on record for February. Five to 15 inches of rain hit the lowlands from 2/22 to this day. Heavy rain starting on 2/16 ended on 2/26. Up to 30 inches of precipitation fell on the south slopes of Mt. San Gorgonio, 13 inches was recorded northwest of Mt. San Jacinto, around ten inches at Banning, less than one inch in eastern Coachella Valley. The death and destruction continued from the previous month. 21 died
from flooding and mud slides all over California. An entire family was killed in Mt. Baldy Village when a mud slide hit their home. Extensive damage hit crops, farmland and livestock. Creeks around Yucaipa all left their banks and substantial flooding occurred to residences and businesses. In the upper desert farmlands became lakes and more than 100 homes along the Mojave River were damaged. Roads and bridges recently repaired from previous month’s damage either washed out or were destroyed again.