Another storm system has Los Angelenos and Rose Bowl Parade attendees bracing for more rain as New Year's Eve stands to be yet another wet holiday in Southern Californian this season.
It comes after an atmospheric river battered the region. Downtown Los Angeles saw its wettest Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 54 years, the National Weather Service Los Angeles previously said. Meanwhile, San Bernardino County communities likeWrightwood and Lytle Creekwere inundated with flooding and debris flows as officials geared up for this round of rain.
It's because of the recent wet weather that forecasters say almost all rainfall will become runoff, leading to flooding even with less rain amounts otherwise typical. There's also "an enhanced risk" of rockslides and mudslides across canyon roadways, urban flooding and small debris flows around recent wildfire burn scars, according to the NWS Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Department is contacting residents at especially vulnerable properties, Mayor Karen Bass said early Wednesday, Dec. 31. Already, evacuation warnings are in place for burn scars like the Palisades and Eaton fires.
It comes as the long-standing Rose Parade in Pasadena is expected to see rain — afirst in recent history.
But the rain isn't ending on New Year's Day, at least according to forecasts as of the morning of Dec. 31.
Here's what to know.
From a short-lived tornado warning to flooding, Southern Californians' Christmas Eve is being shaped by the weather amid an atmospheric river that officials have warned about for days.People sit on the roof of a building while they are stranded during floods partially submerging the surrounding area in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Strong atmospheric river brings floods, snow, high winds to California
From a short-lived tornado warning to flooding,Southern Californians' Christmas Eve is being shaped by the weather amid an atmospheric riverthat officials have warned about for days.People sit on the roof of a building while they are stranded during floods partially submerging the surrounding area in the aftermath of torrential rains, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S. December 24, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
What time is the rain supposed to come? See forecast for Los Angeles County
While rain is expected to gradually increase throughout Dec. 31, rainfall intensities aren't expected to be "too problematic" through the evening, according to the NWS Los Angeles, which covers Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Rain is forecast to be the heaviest come the night of New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day. During the peak of the storm, the highest amount of rainfall in the valleys is expected to occur near foothills, and that includes Pasadena, said the NWS Los Angeles.
Latest details on the stormy week ahead. HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY: Avoid the roads as much as possible Wednesday Night through Thursday. DO NOT try to drive through any road covered with water. Stay away from streams and rivers, especially if camping in the mountains #cawx#larainpic.twitter.com/SW6PBNF7x0
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles)December 30, 2025
Is it going to rain in Pasadena on New Year's Day? See Rose Parade forecast
The NWS Los Angeles is expecting moderate to heavy rainfall for Pasadena on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, with the heaviest rainfall and the chance of a thunderstorm for New Year's Day morning, according to Rich Thompson, meteorologist with the NWS office.
The Rose Parade is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Is it going to rain on New Year's Day in LA County?
Los Angeles County is likely going to have a rainy afternoon on New Year's Day, according to the NWS Los Angeles.
How much rain are we going to get in LA County? See forecast
A forecast through 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 from theCalifornia Nevada River Forecast Centershows Los Angeles could see between 1.5 to 2 inches of rain through this period. Swaths of the county, based on the forecast, are generally expecting more than 1.5 inches of rain as well.
See the rain forecast into the weekend for parts of SoCal
During the day Friday, Jan. 2, the chance of rain is 30% to 50% for Los Angeles County. Those chances grow come nighttime.
More generally, the NWS Los Angeles is forecasting widespread rain for Saturday, Jan. 3. The following two days, Jan. 4-5, aren't expected to have widespread, continuous rain and will be mostly cloudy with periods of rain.
See flood watches, evacuation warnings for Los Angeles County
A flood watch is in effect the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 31 through the evening of Jan. 1 for a swath of Southern California, including Los Angeles County beaches, Malibu, downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the NWS Los Angeles.
Malibu hasan evacuation warningfor the Palisades burn area beginning at 11 a.m. Dec. 31 due to mud and debris flows from the incoming rain. It's among other burn scar regions under evacuation warnings in the county, including the Eaton Fire burn scar area.
Residents of Los Angeles County can view a map of where evacuation warnings are in place atlacounty.gov/emergencyor through the map below.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atpbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:See rain forecast for LA County, Rose Parade on New Year's Day
