California's current situation: Power outages are back, rain is falling, drivers are going crazy

Show Caption Hide Caption Wildfires in California, western US point to climate change Wildfires in California and other western states are getting worse every year, but is climate change all to blame? We explain.

Parts of Southern California were under a flash flood watch Wednesday for the first significant rainfall of a delayed wet season amid a rash of wildfires and an unrelenting parade of preemptive power cutoffs affecting millions of residents.

But central and Northern California saw no relief, and Pacific Gas & Electric began to cut power for up to 155,000 residents of 14 counties.

Downtown Los Angeles had not seen measurable rainfall in almost two months before Wednesday. But a low-pressure system approaching the California coast was bringing "significantly cooler and showery conditions" to the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, the National Weather Service said.

"Brief moderate to heavy showers are expanding over the Los Angeles Metro area," the weather service in Los Angeles tweeted Wednesday morning. "Lightning and thunder observed near Santa Monica and Downtown LA in the last hour. Be prepared sudden slow downs on the slippery roads."

Precipitation has been so rare that the Los Angeles Times included a link on "How to drive in the rain" on its website.

The San Diego Police Department also posted a tweet reminding drivers what to do when it rains, telling them to stay alert to avoid hydroplaning and also to apply their brakes slowly.

Rain⁉️ This is SD‼️ In any case, please make sure that when it rains you: ▫️Turn on Headlights ▫️Stay alert to avoid hydroplanning▫️Leave more distance with the car in front of you & ▫️Apply brakes slowly.



And remember, it’s SD, the weather will be back to AWESOME soon enough. pic.twitter.com/BPcgILD1J2 — San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) November 19, 2019

As is typical during the first rain of the season in Los Angeles, locals were getting a bit excited by the precipitation. One local tweeted, "My childlike joy of seeing and hearing the #LARain this morning means I am an official Angelean."

Others were less thrilled, with one resident, Wendy Pierce, tweeting "I don’t know what this sorcery is but I don’t like it!"

*when it rains in LA for 3 minutes#LARain pic.twitter.com/ePc3CCMMj9 — Stephen Thomas (@15Stephen15) November 20, 2019

Nobody:



La drivers when one drop of rain hits the floor:#Larain pic.twitter.com/rum3KahzK1 — saif (@saifaltai1) November 20, 2019

The storm system brought heavy rain to portions of Arizona, and Phoenix could get 2 inches of rain before the storm ends there on Thursday. Prior to this weather system, Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix had recorded only 3.68 inches for the entire year.

Power outages, again? 750,000 people in Northern California could be left in the dark

The National Weather Service said the "best dynamics" for rain in the Los Angeles area were focused from Los Angeles County to Orange County with much less shower activity across Ventura and other counties northwest of the city.

"They will get some more rain later today, but San Diego will get more," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tony Zartman told USA TODAY.

Los Angeles County can expect no more than one-tenth of an inch of rain, with up to a half-inch in the mountain areas, Zartman said. San Diego could see a quarter-inch, with mountain areas of San Diego County getting another inch in the mountains.

"It won't make much of a difference in Los Angeles, maybe a bit more impact in San Diego County," Zartman said. "It won't be the long, soaking rain they need. But at least that dry brush will get a little moisture on it, which could reduce wildfire threat."

To the east, the rains were in full force Wednesday. Caltrans tweeted warnings of flooding on multiple roads. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for San Bernardino and Riverside counties, saying localized, heavy rainfall could drive mudslides through steep terrain in recently burned areas.

"Some areas already have seen 2 inches, and you are talking about some places that normally get maybe a half-inch for November and December combined," Zartman said. "They are hit hard, but a lot of it will just run off."

Much of the state remained in dire need of precipitation. More than 81% of the state is considered "abnormally" dry, including a small percentage in the first stages of drought, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor.

Pacific Gas & Electric defended the latest round of its sometimes controversial preemptive shutdowns. High winds can topple trees onto power lines, and resulting sparks on the dry brush can ignite flames fanned by the same winds. That formula has already been blamed for several fires and billions in damages in recent years.

"The decision was based on weather forecasts indicating the potential for high winds and dry conditions leading to increased fire risk," PG&E said in a statement.

Contributing: Ayano Nagaishi and Chris Coppola, Arizona Republic