Despite concerns that a hurricane developing off Mexico's southern coast could affect Southern California over Labor Day weekend, meteorologists say the region is expected to see only light rain, if any.
A flurry of reports earlier this week suggested the storm could have significant impacts for Southern California. But that isn't expected to happen, National Weather Service meteorologist Chandler Price told The Desert Sun late Tuesday, Sept. 1.
"There is no chance that a hurricane is going to directly impact California," Price said.
High surf, rain possible in Southern California
The system is currently developing about 415 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, Kyle Wheeler, a meteorologist with the NWS, said Wednesday, Sept. 2.
"It's pretty far south, and it's only expected
to move sort of northwestward at this time," Wheeler said, adding that "there's still a lot of uncertainty in the track and exactly where it goes."
The storm is expected to "strengthen into a hurricane in the next day or two," Wheeler said. At its peak, it is forecast to reach Category 2 strength before weakening several days later.
With the storm being well offshore and likely remaining that way, Wheeler said the main impact for Southern California would be large swells producing high surf along beaches. There is also the potential for light showers across the region, he said.
"Best chance for rainfall would most likely be late Saturday into Monday of next week," Wheeler said.
As of Wednesday morning, it remains uncertain just how much rain, if any, the Southern California region could see, according to Wheeler.
Though the entire region has a slight chance of seeing showers, the most likely areas would be higher-elevation mountain areas, Wheeler said.
"Beyond that, we really can't say much at this time," Wheeler said. "Anything higher impact than that is relatively low probability at this time."
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California Labor Day weather forecast: Rain, no hurricane
