Cold Storm to Strike Pasadena Thursday

A cold, fast-moving storm out of the Gulf of Alaska worked its way toward the Southland today, poised to hit Thursday, when it will generate between three and five hours of moderate rain, National Weather Service forecasters said.

In the San Gabriel Mountains, four to eight inches of snow will fall above 5,500 feet and between one and four inches between 3,500 and 5,500 feet, said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson in a telephone interview from his base in Oxnard in Ventura County.

He said three to five hours of rain is expected Thursday and Thursday night, likely generating some minor urban flooding.

“At this point, no problems are anticipated in burn areas,” he said early this morning.

Between a quarter-inch and three quarter of an inch of rain are expected in Pasadena, and between three-quarters and an inch-and-a-half in the mountains and foothills, according to the NWS.

The NWS forecast sunny skies in L.A. County today, along with a high of 63 in Pasadena.

Wednesday’s temperatures will be slightly higher in Pasadena expectedly 66 amid a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies, but Thursday’s high will dip to only 57 amid rain before rising to the 60s on Friday.

From the National Weather Service here is the week’s full outlook:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. East southeast wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 10am. High near 57. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Thursday Night: Rain before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers after 10pm. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.