At a Glance
- Heavy rain expected for the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.
- Evacuation warnings and flash flood watches in effect through Thursday night across Southern California.
- Several mountain roads closed due to last week’s storm and potential rockslides.
- Why it matters: Residents and parade attendees need to plan for wet conditions and possible disruptions.
A December storm has set the stage for a wet 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, with heavy showers expected during the event and lingering rain afterward. Evacuation alerts and flood watches cover much of Southern California, and several mountain roads remain closed.
Rain Forecast for the Parade
The heaviest rainfall will arrive early Thursday morning, coinciding with the parade, and scattered showers will continue through the rest of New Year’s Day.
- Early Thursday morning: heaviest rainfall during parade.
- Rest of New Year’s Day: scattered showers.

Safety Alerts and Road Closures
Evacuation warnings are active through Thursday night for wildfire burn zones in Los Angeles County, while flash flood watches cover widespread parts of the state. Mountain roads have been closed due to damage from last week’s storm and the risk of rockslides.
| Alert Type | Effective | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Evacuation warning | through Thursday night | Los Angeles County wildfire burn zones |
| Flash flood watch | through Thursday night | widespread parts of Southern California |
| Road closures | ongoing | Mountain roads affected by last week’s storm |
- Rain will arrive for the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.
- Follow for live updates.
Key Takeaways
- Heavy rain is expected during the 2026 Rose Parade.
- Evacuation and flood warnings are in effect through Thursday night.
- Several mountain roads remain closed amid rockslide risk.
With heavy rain on the horizon and safety alerts in place, Pasadena residents and parade-goers should stay informed and heed official warnings.

