Heavy Rainstorm Drenches Hollywood: How Many Inches Fell?

HOLLYWOOD, CA — The first major rainstorm of the season pummeled Los Angeles County this week. Hollywood saw nearly nonstop rain since Tuesday night, making way for drier skies ahead for the holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Over the last three days, Hollywood got a total of 2.5 inches of rain, according to the LA Department of Public Works.

So far this season, Hollywood has gotten a total of about 3.18 inches of precipitation beginning on Oct. 1, according to Public Works.

Most of LA County’s coastline saw between one and three inches of rain over the last three days. The San Fernando Valley saw between two to five inches of rain while downtown LA saw just under two inches.

Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains logged the most amount of rainfall in the last three days in LA County, with 5.2 inches fallen, according to the NWS.

This recent storm brought a variety of dramatic weather conditions throughout the county, including a parking structure that partially collapsed in Rolling Hills Estates and flooding in North Hollywood that stranded at least one car.

California residents will likely see more intense rain storms throughout the winter season as forecasters predict a strong El Niño weather pattern to hit the state.

The Climate Prediction Center says with 100 percent certainty the strengthening El Niño weather pattern will last through early winter, and has 90 percent certainty that it will last until spring. The agency, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expects the El Niño pattern to bring very rainy conditions to California this winter.

In most El Niño winters, the Golden State tends to be rainier than usual from January to March. In moderate to strong El Niño winters, we normally see a strong southern jet stream and atmospheric rivers during that period.

Following the downpour, Los Angeles County beaches were put under a health advisory as high levels of bacteria are expected for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall.

“Bacteria levels can increase significantly during and after rainstorms, as contaminants within the runoff enters the ocean,” according to the LA County Department of Public Health. “Elevated bacteria levels in ocean water may cause illness, especially in children and the elderly.”