How Much Rain Did Southern California Receive?

A powerful winter storm delivered measurable rainfall to nearly every corner of Southwest California during a 72-hour period ending Sunday evening, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard.

By News Desk

The heaviest totals were recorded in the coastal mountains of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, while valleys and coastal areas saw lighter but widespread rainfall. Below is a regional breakdown.

San Gabriel Valley: Steady, Widespread Rainfall

The San Gabriel Valley recorded generally between 1 and 2 inches of rain, with higher totals near foothills and reservoir locations:

• Morris Dam: 1.88 inches
• Eagle Rock Reservoir: 1.56
• La Verne: 1.22
• Alhambra: 1.17
• East Pasadena: 1.17
• Santa Fe Dam: 1.12
• Whittier: 1.09
• Sierra Madre: 1.09
• Claremont: 1.01
• Mt. Olive High School: 0.44

Rainfall was heaviest near the San Gabriel Mountains and tapered toward the valley floor, but the region experienced one of the most uniform precipitation patterns in Southern California.

Los Angeles County: Coast, Valleys, Mountains, and Desert

– LA Coast & Metro

Rainfall ranged from under half an inch near the coast to just over an inch farther inland:

• Hollywood Reservoir: 1.29
• Beverly Hills: 1.27
• Bel Air: 1.26
• Downtown Los Angeles: 1.04
• Santa Monica: 0.71
• Long Beach: 0.59
• LAX: 0.48

– San Fernando Valley

Higher totals were recorded in foothill communities:

• La Cañada Flintridge: 1.89
• Porter Ranch: 1.76
• Woodland Hills: 1.30
• Burbank: 1.06
• Van Nuys: 0.73

– Santa Clarita Valley

• Newhall: 1.46
• Saugus: 1.42
• Castaic: 1.01

– LA Mountains

Significantly higher totals were observed:

• Camp 9: 3.60
• Crystal Lake: 3.50
• Cogswell Dam: 2.48
• San Gabriel Dam: 2.05
• Mt. Baldy: 1.39

– Antelope Valley

The driest area in Los Angeles County:

• Poppy Park: 0.97
• Lancaster: 0.37
• Palmdale: 0.30

Ventura County: Heavy Interior and Mountain Rain

– Coastal Areas

• Saticoy: 1.72
• Ventura: 1.33
• Oxnard Civic Center: 1.27

– Coastal Valleys

• Circle X Ranch: 1.73
• Thousand Oaks: 1.08
• Simi Valley: 0.52

– Interior Valleys

• Red Mountain: 3.50
• Sulphur Mountain: 2.82
• Lake Casitas: 2.81
• Ojai: 2.12

– Mountains

• Nordhoff Ridge: 4.21
• Old Man Mountain: 4.06
• Matilija Canyon: 3.39

Santa Barbara County: Storm Epicenter

Santa Barbara County recorded the highest rainfall totals of the entire event.

– Mountains

• Refugio Pass: 5.15
• Tecolote Canyon: 4.96
• San Marcos Pass: 4.70

– South Coast

• Gaviota Coast: 5.04
• Refugio Hills: 4.51
• Dos Pueblos: 4.01
• Santa Barbara Airport: 2.60
• Carpinteria: 1.08

– Santa Ynez Valley

• Alisal Reservoir: 4.76
• Los Olivos: 2.87
• Solvang: 2.84

Overall Summary

The 72-hour storm delivered light to moderate rainfall across coastal and valley locations, while mountains and wind-facing slopes received several inches of precipitation. Localized totals exceeded five inches in parts of Santa Barbara County. The San Gabriel Valley saw particularly consistent rainfall, while Santa Barbara County bore the brunt of the storm’s intensity.

All data are preliminary and compiled by the National Weather Service in coordination with regional and state agencies.