From wet roses to a wet field, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena could be soggy this year. A rainy New Year's Day is something that doesn't happen very often in Southern California.
After a deluge of rain soaked the state duringChristmas week, Southern California has caught a brief break. That pause won't last long as we ring in the new year.
Another onslaught of rain is expected to push into Southern California on Wednesday, lingering into Thursday, especially in the morning. Even a few rumbles of thunder aren't out of the question around the time the Rose Parade kicks off at 8 a.m. PST.
Spectators planning to line the 5.5 mile route along Colorado Boulevard will want ponchos and rain gear handy, as off-and-on showers are expected throughout the parade.
That unsettled pattern should continue for much of the day, making for soggy tailgates, pre-game parties and spectators as Alabama and Indiana go head-to-head in the College Football Playoff, with a trip to the national semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 up for grabs.
The game's 4 p.m. kickoff is purposely timed that way to incorporate the stunning California sunset with the San Gabrielle Mountains in the background. The moment usually at the end of the third quarter. That sunset shot this year could quite possibly be a blanket of clouds.
Showers should gradually taper off by the afternoon, and a brief lull is expected for a day or so following Thursday, which is good news for travelers heading home.
The Weather Prediction Center has placed parts of Southern California under a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall for Thursday. That means there is a threat for flash flooding, as well as additional mudslides in vulnerable areas.
While most locations are expected to pick up no more than an inch or two of rain with this next system, the ground is already extremely saturated from recent rainfall. As a result, it won't take much additional rain to trigger flooding issues, especially near burn scars and in steep terrain.
Rain On The Rose Bowl Is A Rarity
If Pasadena's forecast holds and rain falls Thursday, it would mark the first time since 2006 that rain has impacted the Rose Parade.
That year, steady rain soaked floats, flowers and spectators throughout the parade route, but conditions improved in time for kickoff, sparing the Rose Bowl game itself from rain.
This year, however, off-and-on showers could linger through the day, raising the possibility of rain during the playoff game as well.
Hopefully, it will be nothing like what was experienced in 1955, which was the last time rain significantly impacted the Rose Bowl game itself.
The 1955 Rose Bowl, featuring the Ohio State Buckeyes and the USC Trojans, was played in a historic downpour. Rain was described as turning the field into a "sea of mud" as players battled slick conditions and drenched fans endured cold, soggy seats. Temperatures hovered in the 50s as rain fell through much of the game.
Ohio State ultimately emerged victorious, defeating the Trojans 20–7.
We will see who will come out on top in 2026, and if the weather plays a role in the outcome of this important matchup.
Jennifer Grayis a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
