# Los Angeles Storm Watch 2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 2, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042 "2008-01-02T22:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/1 "2008-01-02T22:14:14Z")
Here we go again. During this morning’s newscast, my friendly neighborhood weatherman was predicting gloom and doom for the remainder of the week. Starting tomorrow night and lasting through Sunday, we are supposedly going to get anywhere from 2-5 inches of rain in the coastal and valley areas, and up to 10 inches in the foothills and mountains. I have mixed feelings about this prediction. My first feeling, as usual, is skepticism. Although we’ve already had more rain this season than last, it seems like everytime we’ve gotten a prediction for a “major” storm, it has fizzled out. It didn’t develop the way they thought, or it didn’t come as far south as they thought, or any of a myriad of other reasons. It’s frustrating to me because it’s so rare that we get any _real_ rain around here, so I look forward to it, only to be disappointed most of the time. Second, I’m annoyed. If you’ve lived in LA for any period of time, you can understand why from the title of this thread. Any time there’s a hint of moisture in the air, all the local news broadcasts go into “Storm Watch” coverage, putting multiple reporters out in the field in various locales so we can see what water falling from the sky looks like in downtown, suburbia and the mountains. It is guaranteed to be the top story of any broadcast for the first 10 - 15 minutes. It is just silly how worked up we get about rain in this area. Third, I’m worried. As most folks know, we had a particularly bad fire season out here (not even over yet, technically – we had some bad Santa Anas as recently as last night, but without the intense heat, of course). There is real danger in areas that have recently been burned when we get measurable rain. And Mr. Weatherman says that as of right now, this could be our worst storm since January of '05. That means bad mud slides with more folks potentially losing their homes, and it means more stupid people hanging out around flood channels and dying when they get swept away. Lastly, and somewhat contradictory to my prior point, I’m a bit excited. Again, this is nothing compared to the type of rain seen in any other part of the country, even if it turns out as bad as predicted (which, again, I’m doubtful about). But having lived in LA all of my 32 years, I really like a good dousing of rain. Granted, I commute by train, so I don’t have to deal with the horrific traffic others suffer through on the freeways, so I know I’m being selfish. But I’m really really really really really hoping we get soaked good. Not to mention that we are still well behind where we should be in terms of rain totals over the last few years, so we could use it. Stay tuned – we’ll see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/2 "2008-01-02T22:26:19Z")
I was about to start my rain dance until I remembered that I start commuting again next week. I’ll do my rain dance anyways, we’re parched out here… ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/3 "2008-01-02T22:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=Queen Bruin] I was about to start my rain dance until I remembered that I start commuting again next week. I’ll do my rain dance anyways, we’re parched out here… [/QUOTE] Please do it anyway – it’ll all be over before next week regardless, so don’t hold back! 🙂 So for the locals, here’s what Mark Kriski had to say: > [@KTLA weatherman](#): > > Tomorrow a major storm system is shaping up for the West, including Southern California. At this time we’re going to see three different impulses moving into the region. We’ll see increasing cloudiness Thursday day and by afternoon the first front moves in from the northwest. > > Friday morning we will have a brief lull in the rainfall. However late Friday afternoon, into the night, a second very strong front drops into the area. This system has a southerly fetch of moisture that could produce very heavy rainfall. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH will likely be needed for the recently burned areas of the Southland, as mud and debris flows are possible. Snow levels may lower a little with this second system, but are still going to remain on the high side. Strong winds are also going to accompany this storm system. > > By Saturday night a third colder storm rotates into Southern California. This system will not be a huge rain producer, but it will bring a good dusting of snow to the resorts. Sunday day the storm will exit the region with a continued threat of showers. > > Preliminary rainfall amounts for the entire storm system (Thursday through Sunday): Coastal and valley locations from 2” to 5”; For the foothills and mountains storm totals could be as high as 8” to 10” especially along the south facing San Gabriel Mountains. These amounts are subject to change as we get closed to the weekend. > > Take this one seriously folks. It could be a big time rain maker. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/4 "2008-01-02T22:49:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **KTLA weatherman** > Tomorrow a major storm system is shaping up for the West, including Southern California. At this time we’re going to see three different impulses moving into the region. We’ll see increasing cloudiness Thursday day and by afternoon the first front moves in from the northwest. > > Friday morning we will have a brief lull in the rainfall. However late Friday afternoon, into the night, a second very strong front drops into the area. This system has a southerly fetch of moisture that could produce very heavy rainfall. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH will likely be needed for the recently burned areas of the Southland, as mud and debris flows are possible. Snow levels may lower a little with this second system, but are still going to remain on the high side. Strong winds are also going to accompany this storm system. > > By Saturday night a third colder storm rotates into Southern California. This system will not be a huge rain producer, but it will bring a good dusting of snow to the resorts. Sunday day the storm will exit the region with a continued threat of showers. > > Preliminary rainfall amounts for the entire storm system (Thursday through Sunday): Coastal and valley locations from 2” to 5”; For the foothills and mountains storm totals could be as high as 8” to 10” especially along the south facing San Gabriel Mountains. These amounts are subject to change as we get closed to the weekend. > > Take this one seriously folks. It could be a big time rain maker. That is taken almost word for word from the National Weather Services Special Weather Statement for LA. [http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=lox&zone=CAZ041&pil=XXXSPSLOX&productType=Special+Weather+Statement](http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=lox&zone=CAZ041&pil=XXXSPSLOX&productType=Special+Weather+Statement) That guy works hard! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/5 "2008-01-02T22:53:21Z")
[QUOTE=Lamar Mundane] That is taken almost word for word from the National Weather Services Special Weather Statement for LA. [http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=lox&zone=CAZ041&pil=XXXSPSLOX&productType=Special+Weather+Statement](http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=lox&zone=CAZ041&pil=XXXSPSLOX&productType=Special+Weather+Statement) That guy works hard! [/QUOTE] If you watched Mark Kriski, this wouldn’t surprise you in the least. 🙂 Still, better for him to be plagiarizing reputable sources than anything else, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/6 "2008-01-03T00:06:41Z")
The OP pretty much sums up the various things I feel about this. We shall see if it is indeed as heavy as they say. Down here San Diego way, they are often wrong not just about how much rain will fall, but when. So if it’s supposed to rain 2 inches between Thursday and Saturday, I wonder whether I should get ready for 4 inches on Sunday through Tuesday or sprinkles sometime late next week. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/7 "2008-01-03T01:27:28Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] If you’ve lived in LA for any period of time, you can understand why from the title of this thread. [/QUOTE] ‘But it’s really not going to do anything to alleviate the drought.’ ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/8 "2008-01-03T03:48:41Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] ‘But it’s really not going to do anything to alleviate the drought.’ [/QUOTE] Indeed. There’s a La Niña system building in the Pacific, the likes of which no one has seen before. We’re expecting lower than normal rain this year, don’t ya know. After this storm passes through, there’s no more rain in the forecast. Ever. Again. (Unless there is.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/9 "2008-01-03T03:52:24Z")
[QUOTE=Civil Guy] Indeed. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it really got to be a joke. Kevin & Bean would make the comment whenever a ‘big rain’ was due. La Niña should bring more rain and colder temperatures up here. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/10 "2008-01-03T04:15:54Z")
And it’s a “rain EVENT,” folks. That’s what they keep saying. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/11 "2008-01-03T04:25:23Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] And it’s a “rain EVENT,” folks. That’s what they keep saying. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Oh, are tickets sold out already? ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/12 "2008-01-03T04:30:46Z")
Well, then, I want theme music. They do say that the four seasons in LA are fire, flood, drought and earthquake. (When I was in Chicago, they said that the seasons were winter and construction. I like LA’s seasons better.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/13 "2008-01-03T04:40:44Z")
I remember that one of the KFI hosts (Bill Handel?) had a parody featuring _“Super Duper Dippler-Doppler Radar!!”_. Today, good ol’ weatherguy Leo Ciolino on KGO forecasted the biggest storm since 1982. He’s right almost half the time. What the heck…we NEED the water. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/14 "2008-01-03T05:14:24Z")
Of course, we have a debate tournament Friday and Saturday. Sheeet. Break out the sweats and umbrellas, kids. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/15 "2008-01-03T05:27:55Z")
The guy on KOST whose name I can’t spell kept harping on the upcoming storms every time he gave the weather forecast. All I could think of (besides “Damn, my co-workers have the most awful taste in music”) was how fun it’s going to be taking the bus home the next couple of days. Also, the Google ads at the bottom of this thread are all gay-themed for some reason. One is for a quiz to determine whether or not you’re gay. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/16 "2008-01-03T08:19:33Z")
It is also supposed to come visit us in Las Vegas after touring Southern California. Although we need all the rain we can get, it does get a bit scary here when it comes down fast and furious…this being a desert, the rain all goes flying downhill instead of soaking into the ground. This causes flash floods and a lot of damage really quickly. So, uh, feel free to keep it there for awhile longer before sending it our direction. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/17 "2008-01-03T16:25:31Z")
[QUOTE=DMark] It is also supposed to come visit us in Las Vegas after touring Southern California. Although we need all the rain we can get, it does get a bit scary here when it comes down fast and furious…this being a desert, the rain all goes flying downhill instead of soaking into the ground. This causes flash floods and a lot of damage really quickly. So, uh, feel free to keep it there for awhile longer before sending it our direction. [/QUOTE] I’ll try to get word to **Queen Bruin** to intensify the dancing. We’ll see what we can do. No promises. I saw something last night that said the rain would last through Monday, now. _fingers crossed_ ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/18 "2008-01-03T16:49:34Z")
[QUOTE=Lucky 13] The guy on KOST whose name I can’t spell kept harping on the upcoming storms every time he gave the weather forecast. [/QUOTE] Please tell me you’re referring to Mike “Sack-La-Reedees” - I have no idea how to spell the man’s name, but I used to love hearing him say it - what a mouthful! (I should say that I haven’t lived in LA for many years, but when I go up there I’m pretty sure I’ve still heard him on the radio - he’s still on right?) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/19 "2008-01-04T00:11:54Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Yeah, it really got to be a joke. Kevin & Bean would make the comment whenever a ‘big rain’ was due. La Niña should bring more rain and colder temperatures up here. [/QUOTE] At least for the next few years. Beyond that, I’ve heard that, based on climate change projections, SoCal will turn in to Baja, NoCal will become SoCal, and I suppose the PNW will be like the Bay Area. We won’t have droughts down here because we’ll really be a desert, not just the sort-of kind-of desert that everyone means when they say it’s a desert now. The Sahara (parts of which actually had more rainfall last year than L.A.) doesn’t have “droughts” because that’s the way it’s supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042/20 "2008-01-04T00:13:45Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] I’ll try to get word to **Queen Bruin** to intensify the dancing. We’ll see what we can do. No promises. I saw something last night that said the rain would last through Monday, now. _fingers crossed_ [/QUOTE] 'Kay, I’ve got the tequila and some Queen on the radio. Should start raining any time now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-storm-watch-2008/432042.md?page=2)