Season Rain Totals Los Angeles (2024)

FAQs

How much rain has LA had this year? ›

The rainfall total for Los Angeles in 2023-24 is 17.79 inches, about 8 inches above normal to date, and more than 3.5 inches above the normal for the year.

"Lets take a look at the 2024 rainfall. Los Angeles 15.33" (194% of normal) San Francisco 13.58" (121% of normal) San Diego 10.89" (183% of normal) Seattle 12.91" (86% of normal)," NWS Seattle posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Los Angeles: rain capital, U.S.A. The country at large may usually be jealous of our traditional weather patterns, but things have slightly shifted in 2024: According to the Seattle office of the National Weather Service, in fact, it has rained more in Los Angeles this year than the notoriously wet Washington city.

Wondering why it's been so rainy in Southern California in early 2024? The answer may lie in a program that uses man-made weather modification to increase precipitation. Last year, Southern California water officials announced a four-year pilot program aimed at increasing precipitation by 5-15% for the year.

The record for most rainfall for two days in a row in downtown Los Angeles is 7.98 inches on Dec. 31, 1933, and Jan. 1, 1934, causing the Crescenta Valley Flood that killed at least 45 people and destroyed roughly 100 homes.

A bar chart showing the five wettest rain seasons in downtown LA. October 1888 to 1890 had the most rain at 54.1 inches, followed by 2022 to 2024.

WA drought | Los Angeles has seen more rain than Seattle in 2024 | king5.com.

La Niña takes over El Niño: a favorably cooler weather, but many unknowns. The second half of 2024 is expected to be marked by the appearance of La Niña. This phenomenon, whose extent and consequences remain uncertain, is likely to cause weather changes in multiple parts of the globe.

California is ideally located for atmospheric rivers, as extratropical cyclones formed over the North Pacific Ocean can tap into warm tropical air and, when positioned right, transport a large amount of water vapor from the tropics to the California coast.

Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo is located on the Big Island. Known for its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and blooming gardens, Hilo is full of amazing sites and world-class beauty. It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month.

What part of California gets the most rain? ›

It is highly variable across the state with the southeast deserts receiving less than 5 inches in a year to the north coast which can get over 100 inches per year.

The climate of Los Angeles is mild to hot year-round, and mostly dry. It is classified as borderline Mediterranean and semi-arid. The city is characterized by seasonal changes in rainfall—with a dry summer and a winter rainy season.

Southwest states (Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah) are forecast to have average temperatures and precipitation, a possible break from last winter's atmospheric rivers.

How California's storms are projected to become more extreme with climate change. Human-caused climate is projected to bring wetter, more intense storms. Scientists explain what these shifts mean for California and the West.

The estimated 2024 annual value is based on the relationship between the January-June temperatures and annual temperatures between 1970 and 2023. Chart by Carbon Brief. Carbon Brief's projection suggests that 2024 is very likely to be the warmest year on record, with a central estimate of 1.57C.

Statewide precipitation v​alues range from a low of 10.75 inches ​(​1924​)​ to a high of 42.82 inches ​(​1983​)​, with an average of 23.5 inches over the entire period of record​ (1895-2023)​.

La Niña typically reaches peak strength in the winter, when it has the biggest influence on weather. A La Niña winter usually means dry, warmer-than-average conditions across the southern half of the country. In Southern California, residents can expect drier winters with reduced rainfall and snowfall.

Los Angeles is a relatively dry city with a distinct rainy season in the winter. That said, even in February (the wettest month) it only rains for five days on average.

While El Niño certainly contributed to the elevated rainfall and higher levels of precipitation California has seen in 2024, it is not the sole cause. Increased global temperatures allow for air to hold more moisture, causing greater volumes of water vapor to be stored, and higher levels of precipitation.