Thursday, January 1, 2026

Forecasters Agree: Rain to Soak Rose Parade; Clearing Expected for Rose Bowl Game

Heaviest rain could occur right at 8 a.m., as the Parade steps off

Spectators and participants of the 137th Rose Parade will likely face a morning of heavy, persistent rain, with the most intense downpours expected to coincide directly with the parade’s 8 a.m. start, according to a consensus of national and local weather forecasts.

Conditions are expected to improve by the afternoon, with only a slight chance of showers for the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Rose Bowl Game.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and a Flood Advisory for the Pasadena area, warning of the potential for localized flooding, particularly in recent Eaton Fire burn areas, as the significant storm moves through Southern California.

Forecasters predict total rainfall between 0.75 and 1.25 inches in Pasadena for the day.

For the duration of the Rose Parade, from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m., the chance of rain is 100%, according to multiple forecasting services including the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel.

The period between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. is forecast to see the heaviest and most consistent rainfall.

Weather Underground projects as much as 0.57 inches of rain in the 8 a.m. hour alone. The National Weather Service adds that thunderstorms are also possible after 4 a.m. and through the morning.

Temperatures during the parade will hover in the upper 50s, with east-southeast winds of 5 to 10 mph.

By the time the Rose Bowl Game begins at 1 p.m., the storm is expected to have largely passed.

Forecasts show a significant drop in the chance of precipitation, with most services predicting partly to mostly cloudy skies.

The National Weather Service indicates a 60% chance of rain in the early afternoon, which drops to 10% by 3 p.m. The Weather Channel and AccuWeather show a similar clearing trend, with the chance of showers decreasing to around 30% by game time. Afternoon temperatures are expected to reach a high in the low to mid-60s, with southerly winds of 4 to 7 mph.

This forecast is based on data from the National Weather Service, Weather Underground, AccuWeather, and The Weather Channel as of 4 a.m. PST on January 1, 2026.