Fast-Moving Storm to Deliver Chilly Rain to Pasadena Area

A powerful storm system is moving through Southern California Thursday, bringing rain, unseasonably cold temperatures and prompting evacuation orders in some areas vulnerable to mudslides and debris flows.

Pasadena is experiencing unseasonably cold conditions with temperatures in the mid-50s—approximately 18 degrees below normal for mid-March.

The NWS expects rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch in Pasadena, with higher amounts possible during isolated thunderstorms.

“Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11:00 a.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11:00 a.m,” the NWS forecast states for Thursday.

Wind gusts could reach 25 mph.

Lighter precipitation is forecast for Friday, with a 20 percent chance of showers Thursday night and an 80 percent chance Friday, mainly after 11 a.m.

The weekend outlook shows significant improvement with Saturday bringing dry conditions and mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing to near 65 degrees. Sunday will continue the warming trend with a high near 71.

“A weak ridge of high pressure builds over the area” for the weekend, according to the NWS. This will create “weak offshore flow” that should prevent low clouds and fog.

Looking ahead to next week, a weaker weather system is expected to arrive Monday, bringing only a slight chance of rain to the Pasadena area. Dry weather returns Tuesday and Wednesday with gradually warming temperatures, though still remaining slightly below seasonal norms.

Tonight’s low temperature is expected to drop to around 42 degrees with breezy conditions continuing until midnight.

Here is the latest forecast for Pasadena from the National Weather Service as of 3:16 a.m. on Thursday, March 13:

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11:00 a.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11:00 a.m. High near 56. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11:00 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Friday: Showers, mainly after 11:00 a.m. High near 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 11:00 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west northwest in the evening.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Monday: A slight chance of rain after 11:00 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 66.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 42.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 70.