Pacific Storm RIPPER went as expected, with less activity Ventura north and westward and the most Los Angeles south and eastward.  Thunderstorms were reported as well as some wet slushy mountain snowfall.  Read on more for details on what is next.

The graphic in the original article showed San Diego would be ground zero through the entire system.  On December 3rd at 8:30am I issued a Flood Watch ahead of the system for the metro zones.  The flood watch stated, “Pacific Storm RIPPER will bring two rounds of precipitation to the region, one on Wednesday along the warm conveyor belt ahead of the main surface low and then another on Thursday.  This surface low is known as an undercutting slider, which means it’ll move southwest of the forecast area and then into Baja, Mexico. This pattern provides the most rainfall near the coast from Long Beach to San Diego.  Unlike the last system, San Diego will stand to see the best dynamics from RIPPER as he rips on through. This flood watch means that conditions will be favorable for shower and thunderstorm activity to provide the area with flooding potential from short duration heavy rainfall bursts.” 

The Flood Watch was indeed correct.  A Winter Weather Advisory was issued here at Southern California Weather Force on Tuesday afternoon for Wednesday morning.  It stated, “Putting two and two together, this complex pattern is being monitored in the High Desert zones for the chance of flakes and/or a mix/ice … including the Kern Mountains. Given the temperatures will be freezing at the surface and some warmer air above that (odd).. this could give the area ice or sleet, which could freeze the roads on impact and make for a travel danger.”  Numerous reports of light snow, ice, sleet happened on Wednesday morning in the High Desert and Antelope Valley.

Pacific Storm RIPPER brought the most dynamics today and it will move out by Friday morning in many locations. Numerous thunderstorms were detected as far north as Orange County and the Inland Empire.  The most activity was San Diego County, as previously thought.

Widely scattered showers in San Diego north to some Inland Empire locations are possible over the day on Friday with residual moisture.

The December 2018 forecast here at SCWF stated that 2-4″ of rainfall will be likely for the month for Downtown Los Angeles.  This storm recorded 2.11″ of rainfall and thus we are within the window.  A brief break is likely over the next week through Mid-Month… before the pattern returns to stormy around Christmas time.