Los Angeles has experienced unseasonably cold and rainy weather in recent weeks. In November, the city received a total of 5.53 inches of rain, more than seven times the historical average for the month, making it the fifth wettest November on record. Meteorologist Adam Krueger of FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV) attributes the unusually high level of precipitation to a series of storms originating in the Pacific Ocean that eventually made their way to Southern California. These storms were fueled by atmospheric rivers, which are long, narrow bands of water vapor that transport moisture into the region. At the same time, a large area of low-pressure high in the atmosphere remained stationary, blocking the flow of warmer, drier air and keeping temperatures ten to fifteen degrees below normal.
November’s rainfall brought benefits as well as disruption. On the one hand, the storms allowed drought-ridden areas of Southern California, including Los Angeles, to replenish previously depleted water supplies. On the other hand, the wet weather triggered mudslides and toppled trees, creating hazardous conditions and resulting in crucial roadway closures. City authorities have reported two storm-related deaths and continue to issue public safety warnings.
Noah Koo ’27 said that the high rainfall this month came as a big surprise.
“At first, I was thinking it was just an ordinary rainy day, which happens in Los Angeles once in a while,” Koo said. “But when I talked to friends, they were saying that it was pouring and almost flooding Coldwater Canyon. The weather was definitely weird this month.”
Niko Ma ’27 said the rainy weather had inconvenienced him on campus and hopes that the shortage of an indoor space for students during this period will serve as strong evidence for a larger push for students to regain access to classrooms, which are prohibited without faculty supervision.
“The rainy weather has generally been inconvenient, but especially on campus,” Ma said. “It would be nice if students could use classrooms during lunch because at the moment, the rainy weather forces everyone into the library, which is extremely crowded.”
Lawrence Zhao ’28 said that while the stormy weather was disruptive, students’ support of one another helped manage its impacts and fostered a sense of unity among the school community.
“Despite the inconvenience, something positive did come out of it,” Zhao said. “There was a weird sense of collective bonding among students. Everyone was in the same boat, dealing with the miserable conditions. Lots of friends were sharing umbrellas and helping each other out, which created a shared experience that felt kind of unifying.”
Sally Ramberg ’26 said activities such as driving during this rainy season were challenging.
“I have definitely noticed the [rainy weather],” Ramberg said. “If I have to do something like go to school [during a rainy day], it’s inconvenient and messy. For example, when I was driving home on the second day of the rain, there were two cars fully stuck in the potholes, and that was [frightening].”
Current forecasts for December suggest a return to more typical temperatures and rainfall with mild days, cool evenings and only occasional showers. Assuming such conditions hold, Los Angeles should expect a relatively seasonable start to the winter ahead.
