Season Rain Totals Los Angeles (2024)

FAQs

How much rain has L.A. got this year? ›

The rainfall total for Los Angeles in 2023-24 is 17.79 inches, about 8 inches above normal to date, and more than 3.5 inches above the normal for the year.

"Lets take a look at the 2024 rainfall. Los Angeles 15.33" (194% of normal) San Francisco 13.58" (121% of normal) San Diego 10.89" (183% of normal) Seattle 12.91" (86% of normal)," NWS Seattle posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Los Angeles: rain capital, U.S.A. The country at large may usually be jealous of our traditional weather patterns, but things have slightly shifted in 2024: According to the Seattle office of the National Weather Service, in fact, it has rained more in Los Angeles this year than the notoriously wet Washington city.

The record for most rainfall for two days in a row in downtown Los Angeles is 7.98 inches on Dec. 31, 1933, and Jan. 1, 1934, causing the Crescenta Valley Flood that killed at least 45 people and destroyed roughly 100 homes.

While atmospheric rivers frequently make landfall in California during winter, 2024 has the added effect of being an El Niño year, which tends to alter the atmospheric circulation patterns over the Pacific Ocean and lead to changes in the position and intensity of the jet stream.

According to the KING 5 Weather Team, this is typical for an El Niño winter, which favors precipitation over the southwest and drier conditions up north. Los Angeles has seen 15.77 inches of rainfall since the year began.

Synopsis: ENSO-neutral is expected to continue for the next several months, with La Niña favored to emerge during August-October (70% chance) and persist into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2024-25 (79% chance during November-January).

"The so-called average year like we're having now is becoming rarer and rarer. And this is a climate change signature," Mount said of the trend. "Our wet years are becoming wetter, and our dry years are becoming dryer.

California has already made progress toward ending the drought, with nearly 93% of the state completely drought-free as of Monday, and the remainder in only an “abnormally dry” state, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Drought Monitor.

Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo is located on the Big Island. Known for its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and blooming gardens, Hilo is full of amazing sites and world-class beauty. It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month.

What part of California gets the most rain? ›

It is highly variable across the state with the southeast deserts receiving less than 5 inches in a year to the north coast which can get over 100 inches per year.

The climate of Los Angeles is mild to hot year-round, and mostly dry. It is classified as borderline Mediterranean and semi-arid. The city is characterized by seasonal changes in rainfall—with a dry summer and a winter rainy season.

The rainfall total for the 2023-2024 rain season now stands at 17.79 inches, which is already more than 3.5 inches above normal for the entire year, according to the Weather Service.

Los Angeles is a relatively dry city with a distinct rainy season in the winter. That said, even in February (the wettest month) it only rains for five days on average.

The record high for a calendar year (January through December) was 40.29 inches in 1884 and record low was 3.60 inches in 2013.

La Niña is not known to influence California's summer weather, but by late fall and winter, a slight tilt in the odds toward drier than normal conditions is likely in the southern half of the state. La Niña winters have historically resulted in a mixed bag of precipitation impacts in Northern California.

Statewide annual precipitation (1895-2023)

Statewide precipitation v​alues range from a low of 10.75 inches ​(​1924​)​ to a high of 42.82 inches ​(​1983​)​, with an average of 23.5 inches over the entire period of record​ (1895-2023)​.