How Much Rain Will Seal Beach Get This Week? Storm Series Arrives

SEAL BEACH, CA — Several storm systems are lining up to slam across Southern California through the end of January, according to the National Weather Service San Diego. The next storm system arrived Tuesday, with another predicted to settle across Seal Beach and Orange County starting Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing with it wind, rain and high surf, according to NWS meteorologist Alexander Tardy in his recent report.

A Beach Hazard Statement was in effect through Friday evening, according to the NWS, with very high surf of 10 to 14 feet expected at some beaches.

Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions, as well as areas of coastal flooding and beach erosion, were probable at most Orange County Beaches, according to the NWS.

"A westerly swell of 10 to 12 feet and a period of 16 to 18 seconds will produce very high surf," they said. South Orange County and San Diego County beaches will see the highest waves during this storm period.

The storm arrived Tuesday morning with light rainfall, though heavier rain and strong winds are forecast as part of a more robust Pacific storm system expected to impact the Southland starting late Wednesday through Thursday.

Clouds blanketed much of the Southland Tuesday and were expected to grow denser as the frontal system over the eastern Pacific approaches the area. According to the NWS, most cities in Orange County will generally see a half-inch to an inch of rain Tuesday. Snow is likely for the higher elevations in area mountains, especially the San Bernardino mountain range and area ski resorts.

A break in the storms was expected Wednesday, according to forecasters, but a stronger and wetter storm would drop in across Orange County much of Thursday into Friday.

During Thursday's storm, up to 6 inches of rain are expected in some areas, with snow at higher elevations. The heaviest rainfall is expected to occur late Wednesday through Thursday morning.
According to the NWS, wind advisories and warnings are likely Wednesday into Thursday.

Health officials are warning people to avoid entering ocean water near discharging storm drains or rivers due to possible bacterial infection. The Orange County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean water quality rain advisory that was in effect until 7 a.m. Tuesday though a swell is promised to the area.

Health officials noted that stormwater runoff that reaches the ocean can carry bacteria, chemicals, debris trash and other health hazards. Health officials said that people who come in contact with impacted water in the ocean could become ill.

Temperatures are expected to be cool throughout the week, with highs in the 50s and 60s in most areas.

Large amounts of rainfall materialized over the holiday weekend, with two to five inches of rain on New Year's Eve and day. Over the next several days, Orange County can expect almost 2 inches of rain through Thursday.

Orange County will see the brunt of the storm toward the end of the week, according to the NWS. Strong winds will blow along the coast, with 35 to 40 miles per hour winds accompanied by rain moving from west to east.

"Central California remains the bullseye of these atmospheric rivers and the storm track, those areas are two to three times wetter than average over a 30-day period since the beginning of December," Tardy said. Southern California is still running a little bit above average for rainfall since the start of the 2023 Water Year that began in October, according to Tardy. "We need to stay in this pattern in order to make a dent in the drought."

Temperatures are expected to be cool throughout the week, with highs in the 50s and 60s in most areas.

National Weather Service Forecast for Seal Beach:

Rain, mainly after 4am. Low around 54. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday
Rain. High near 61. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Rain likely before 4am, then showers after 4am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 54. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday
Showers, mainly before 4pm. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 60. Breezy, with a southeast wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night
A chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.