Honestly, if you’ve lived in Long Beach for more than a minute, you know the drill. You wake up expecting that classic SoCal sunshine, only to find a wall of gray mist or, lately, a literal deluge that turns PCH into a temporary lake. It's been a wild start to 2026. The long beach ca weather news has been dominated by a series of aggressive Pacific storms that basically decided to park themselves right over the coast.
Just last week, we saw over an inch of rain dumped on the Long Beach Airport in a single day. That might not sound like much to people in Seattle, but for us? It’s a mess.
Why the Forecast Feels So Bipolar Lately
One day it’s 68 degrees and people are out at Rosie’s Dog Beach like it's mid-July. The next, the National Weather Service is firing off alerts about coastal flooding and "monster waves" hitting the jetties. It’s exhausting to keep up with.
The reality is that we are dealing with a weirdly warm but very wet winter. According to the latest data from the Farmer’s Almanac and local meteorologists, January 2026 is trending about 2 degrees warmer than our historical average, but the precipitation is way up. We are looking at a predicted 3 inches of rain for the month, which is a significant jump from the usual 2.5 inches we expect.
The King Tide Mess Nobody Talked About
You might have heard about the flooding up in the Bay Area earlier this month—record-breaking stuff, highest since 1998. Well, that same energy hit Southern California too. While we didn't have cars floating down the street like they did in Larkspur, the "King Tides" combined with a 1-foot storm surge created some sketchy situations near the Peninsula.
Basically, the ocean is higher than it usually is. When you add a low-pressure system pushing more water toward the shore, the drainage pipes in low-lying spots like Belmont Shore just can't keep up.
- The Peninsula: Saw some minor street flooding during the high tide peaks around January 4th.
- The Port: Heavy winds (we’re talking gusts up to 25 mph) made cargo operations a bit of a headache.
- The 710: As always, the standing water near the low-underpasses became a nightmare for commuters.
Is This the "New Normal" for Long Beach?
Experts at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been warning about this for a while. It’s not necessarily that it’s raining more often, it’s that when it does rain, it’s like a fire hose. These "Atmospheric Rivers" are becoming more concentrated.
We’re seeing a shift where our dry years are getting bone-dry, and our wet years are becoming erratic. In 2026, we are squarely in one of those "erratic" phases. The soil is already saturated from the New Year’s storm that hit right on December 31st and carried through January 3rd. Because the ground can’t soak up any more water, even a light drizzle now leads to instant runoff and those giant puddles that stay for three days.
What to Expect for the Rest of January
If you're planning a weekend at the Pike or a boat trip out of Shoreline Village, you’ve gotta be tactical. The window between January 15th and January 23rd looks pretty soggy. We are expecting "rainy periods, some heavy," followed by a chilly snap.
Expect temperatures to dip into the high 40s at night. Yeah, I know, "California cold," but it's enough to make you actually dig out that puffer jacket you bought three years ago and never wore.
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- Late January (24th-31st): It looks like we finally get a break. The forecast shows a return to sunny but cool conditions.
- February Outlook: Don’t put the umbrella away just yet. Early February is predicted to be rainy again, with a potential for even heavier storms toward the end of the month.
Real Talk on Driving and Safety
Look, don't be that person who tries to drive through a flooded intersection on Anaheim Street. You don't know how deep it is, and honestly, it’s never worth the risk of hydrolocking your engine. The city usually puts out free sandbags at several locations, including the Fire Station 7 on Elm Avenue and the Lifeguard Station at 72nd Place. If you live in one of the flood-prone spots, just go get them.
Also, keep an eye on the "Beach Hazards Statements." Those long-period swells coming in from the northwest aren't just for surfers. They create brutal rip currents and "sneaker waves" that can literally pull you off the sand if you aren't paying attention.
Actionable Steps for Long Beach Residents
- Check Your Drains: Clear the leaves out of your gutters and the street drains in front of your house. It makes a huge difference in whether your street turns into a pond.
- Download the LBTV/Alerts: If there’s a major flood warning or a power outage from the wind, the city is actually pretty good at sending out pings.
- Secure Outdoor Gear: We’ve had some fresh breezes (18-24 mph) lately. If your patio furniture isn't heavy, it’s going to end up in your neighbor's yard.
- Plan for the 710/405 Mess: Whenever the long beach ca weather news mentions "heavy rain," just add 30 minutes to your commute. People forget how to drive the second a drop hits the windshield.
Keep your eye on the sky, but maybe keep a pair of waterproof boots by the door for the next week or two. We aren't out of the woods with these winter storms just yet.