Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Forecasters: Expect a Wet New Year’s Rose Parade

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Santa Ana winds expected to continue gusting across much of the Southland on Tuesday, beginning a week of unsettled weather that is forecast to include more rain in the saturated region, including the likelihood of significant rain falling on the normally sunny Rose Parade in Pasadena.

The National Weather Service has extended wind advisories for the Los Angeles area through 3 p.m. Tuesday followed by rainy weather on Wednesday.

“A return to wet weather is expected Wednesday as moisture from off the coast of Mexico gets pulled up into southern California,” said the NWS. “Onset time is still in question, but no later than Wednesday evening. Some light rain is possible as early as Wednesday morning, especially far western areas as the hi res models show the initial trajectory farther to the west over the Channel Islands and Central Coast, but then shifting east during the afternoon and evening.”

The windy conditions will give way to rain by mid-week, with the NWS calling for “periods of light to moderate rain” beginning Wednesday or Wednesday night and continuing into Saturday. Forecasters said roughly 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible by week’s end in coastal and valley areas, with 2 to 5 inches possible in the mountains.

Rains forecasted to begin lightly Wednesday and increase in intensity through the week with the heaviest downpours slated for New Year’s Day.

“Precipitable waters rise quickly Wednesday night, rising to between 1.25 and 1.5″ through New Years Day,” according to the NWS. “This will be the period of heaviest rainfall with this storm, but likely still at least 50% lighter than the last event.”

Given last week’s storms that saturated the ground in many areas, authorities again warned of possible mud and debris flows from the upcoming rain.

According to The Weather Channel, there is a 77% chance of rain in Pasadena for New Year’s Eve and 98% on New Year’s Day — raising the possibility of a soggy Rose Parade. If the forecast holds, it will be the first time that significant rain has fallen on the floral procession since 2006. The parade has traditionally managed to avoid precipitation, with measurable rain dampening the event less than a dozen times in its previous 136 years.

NWS forecasters said people heading for the parade should expect to get wet.

“… The chances of a wet New Year’s parade, and including the night before when people came out before the parade, are extremely high, 80-90% at this point,” forecasters said in a statement Monday afternoon.

Here is the NWS forecast for Pasadena as of 1:26 a.m.:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of rain after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: Rain, mainly after 10am. High near 67. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 53. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

New Year’s Day: Rain. High near 63. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.

Friday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Saturday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Monday: A chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.