A soggy start to the new year

Latest storm is forecast to rain on Rose Parade and raise flood risks throughout the region

- By Gavin J. Quinton

CARMEN GARCIA and her mother, Carmen, take in the view along Angeles Crest Highway under light rain in Angeles National Forest.

Rain fell over the Southland on Wednesday afternoon as the region headed into the new year soggy and with the virtual certainty of a wet 2026 Rose Parade.

Forecasters warned of a “near 100 percent” chance of rain falling on the parade route — including overnight as spectators camped along Colorado Boulevard — marking the first wet New Year’s organizers have seen since 2006.

“The bulk of the rain looks like it’s going to start late tonight,” meteorologist Bryan Lewis said Wednesday, “and continue into tomorrow morning.”

Within that time frame, there’s a 20% to 30% chance of thunderstorms, according to Lewis, who is with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office. Lewis expects the chance of thunderstorms to begin tapering off around 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, or about two to three hours after the parade’s 8 a.m. kickoff.

There’s also a chance of lightning, as with any thunderstorm, Lewis noted. Lightning typically seeks the highest conductive point, raising concerns in large open areas with bleacher-seated crowds and steel-framed parade floats.

“Floats could be vulnerable, especially out in the middle of the street. ... Winds and heavy rain could [affect] some of those floats too,” Lewis said. “If there is lightning, people should try to move to covered areas, indoors or into vehicles.”

Rose Parade officials didn’t immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment Wednesday, but Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian told CBS News that parade organizers were preparing their responses to different weather scenarios.