This will be done with images and each image will have an explanation. Images are clickable and this is valid through TONIGHT ONLY …
This is now, around noon. This shows the break in activity in most of the metro areas with thunderstorms exploding in the High Desert areas. Note south of Santa Barbara there is a batch of rainfall. This is the focus as it will move toward the metros.
By 3-4pm this afternoon the activity in the bight will move through the Ventura County zones. Please note that the heaviest flooding potential is near the coast and offshore. However as this moves into the upper divergence zone, cooling cloud tops in the Ventura County area would support lightning risks.
By 6-7pm this evening the batch would arrive in the LAX area, northward to Santa Clarita/LA Mtns and south to Catalina Island. Cooling tops with it says a chance of lightning exists with this one as well … the yellow and orange color over the LA Coast/Southern Basin tells me that urban stream and street flooding will be possible.
9-10pm tonight the activity slowly moves into the Orange County areas, with developing activity in the Northern San Diego County zones into the Inland Empire ahead of it. Cooling cloud tops still signal a chance of lightning, mainly for Northern OC north to the mountain/foothill zones of the IE/LA areas, including the Cajon Pass. the yellow and orange color tells me that urban stream and street flooding will be possible.
After midnight, continued heavy rainfall through the metros looks likely, with much drier air filtering into the SBA/VT/SLO/KERN Areas at that time … and the heavier rain potential extending into the Inland Empire … cooling cloud tops signal a chance of lightning. Isolated/scattered showers form across San Diego at this time. The yellow spot inland is heavier rainfall in the Western Banning Pass/Yucaipa areas against the Southwest San Bernardino County Mountains.
Monday, October 20, 2025