The last time the parade got drenched was in 2006, when sheets of rain soaked the floats and marching bands making their way past poncho-wearing spectators on the five and a half mile route in Pasadena.

Prior to that, rain had not fallen on the parade since 1955 — and only eight other times since the floats, traditionally decorated with real flowers, began rolling in 1890, usually on New Year’s Day, except when Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday.

The New Year’s storm won’t pack anything close to the punch of the one that turned the region into a muddy mess last week, producing a small tornado in Boyle Heights and playing a role in the deaths of five people.

But it could put a damper on the Rose Parade, beginning with the spectators camping out along Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Eve to secure a prime viewing spot.

Rain should start to fall that night, with as much as a tenth of an inch expected, along with another half an inch on New Year’s Day, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“People camping out New Year’s Eve for the parade will probably get a little bit wet,” he said. “During the parade itself, it should be raining, but nothing anywhere near what we just experienced — not even in the same ballpark.”

In the interim, things should stay dry, with Santa Ana conditions expected through Tuesday.

Officials with the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. are trying to remain optimistic, saying they try to avoid “the word that begins with an R.”

“History shows us the sun tends to show up right on time,” said David Eads, the association’s chief executive. “But no matter the weather, we’re prepared. The Rose Parade will be magical, and the Rose Bowl game will be spectacular.”

If rain does come, the tops will go up on the convertibles that traverse the parade route, Eads said. On the upside, he added, rain is “actually really good for the flowers, which do better in cooler weather.”

This year’s parade theme is “The Magic in Teamwork,” and the grand marshal is basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson. In 2006, the parade’s theme was also magic-related.

With so much rain over the past two months, there should be no repeat of January’s devastating wildfires.

“Fire season is definitely done now,” said Thompson of the National Weather Service. “We’re good until late spring, early summer at this point.”

The Christmas holiday rain totals came on top of strong storms in November, making the start to Southern California’s rainy season — which began Oct. 1 — one of the wettest ever. By midday Friday, it already ranked among the seven wettest for the region — a major departure from last year’s dry weather.

Downtown Los Angeles has received 11.13 inches so far this rainy season. A normal amount by this point would be 3.28 inches, Thompson said.

Last week’s storm broke rainfall records for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in many places.

Some mountain areas received close to 18 inches of rain for the last five days, through Saturday morning. Downtown L.A. got 4.2 inches of rain. Porter Ranch got more than 9 inches and La Cañada Flintridge got more than 7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

In Wrightwood, nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains, residents were digging out of rivers of mud and debris that washed through their homes.

In Los Angeles, police responded to more than 520 traffic accidents during the storm. Firefighters went to five river rescue incidents, and city crews fielded calls for about 750 “tree emergencies,” including downed trees and fallen branches.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Shasta counties.

In Redding, a 74‑year‑old man died after driving his pickup truck into a flooded roadway. In Mendocino County, a woman was knocked off a rock by a large wave at a beach. And in San Diego, a man was fatally struck by a falling tree.

On Friday, authorities reported finding a deceased man in a partially submerged vehicle in the Lancaster area.

A fifth storm-related death took place in Fresno County, where the body of a 21-year-old was found in a vehicle, which was 12 feet underwater in a canal, according to ABC30 in Central California.

At Mammoth Mountain, two ski patrollers suffered significant injuries Friday morning when a slide hit as they performed “avalanche mitigation work.” One patroller sustained serious injuries and was transported out of the area for further care; the second patroller may have suffered broken bones.

On Saturday, during one of the busiest times of the year for local ski resorts, the mountain remained closed. It will reopen Sunday.

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A plume of subtropical moisture — often referred to as an atmospheric river — is forecast to move south into the region beginning as early as Tuesday night, bringing periods of rain to Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through at least Christmas Day, according to the National Weather Service.

There remains uncertainty regarding the storm’s timing and intensity, though confidence is increasing that rainfall will be widespread, said NWS meteorologist Kyle Wheeler.

Forecasters expect the heaviest rain to fall on Wednesday, with additional lighter showers possible on Christmas Day.

In Los Angeles County, 2 to 4 inches of rain are possible across metro areas from Tuesday night through Christmas, with up to double that amount in foothills and mountains, according to NWS meteorologist Bryan Lewis. The last time downtown Los Angeles saw more than 2 inches of rain on Christmas Eve was 1971, and the last time it saw more than 2 inches on Christmas Day was 1946, Lewis said.

Across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, lower elevations are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, while higher elevations could see 3 to 5 inches or more, Wheeler said.

Some areas could also challenge longstanding Christmas rainfall records. In Orange County, the highest recorded rainfall on Christmas Day is 1.21 inches, set in 1988, according to NWS meteorologist Lauren Villafane. In San Bernardino County, the Christmas Day rainfall record stands at 1.90 inches, also set in 1988, while Riverside County last saw more than 1.14 inches on Christmas Day in 1940, Villafane said.

Temperatures are expected to remain mild, with highs in the 60s across coastal and valley areas through Christmas. Thursday, Dec. 18 appears to be the warmest day before gradual cooling over the weekend, Lewis said.

Snow is not expected for populated areas, but colder air arriving around Christmas could lower snow levels to between 5,500 and 7,000 feet, including in the Wrightwood area, Lewis said.

Forecasters warned the storm could make travel difficult, with reduced visibility and slippery roads and an increased risk of flooding and debris flows, particularly in foothill and mountain areas, as rain falls through the holiday period.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Torrid heat will persist this week throughout Riverside County, bringing with it unhealthful air in the western part of the region.

Countywide, an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 8 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service. An ozone advisory is also in place through 8 p.m. Friday across all of the county’s western area.

During the hot stretch, daytime high temperatures are forecast to exceed 105 degrees in the Temecula Valley and San Gorgonio Pass Area, while the Coachella Valley will hover around 115 degrees, the NWS reported.

” … we expect hot weather in most areas this afternoon with highs up to 115 in hottest parts of the lower deserts and 106 in hottest parts of the valleys,” according to the agency.

Overnight lows in the valleys and Pass Area will drop to the low to mid-70s, while the desert areas will dip to the low 90s.

The hot weather is creating elevated fire conditions across the mountains, valleys and deserts.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the mountains and deserts Wednesday afternoon, which could extend into the weekend, according to the NWS.

While the heat warning is currently set to expire Friday night, forecasters say they are watching models.

“We are looking at extending the excessive heat warning for at least parts of our area through Saturday and will finalize any decision by early this afternoon,” the NWS reported Wednesday morning.

During dangerously hot conditions, the NWS urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Animal welfare agencies also advise that residents keep their pets and livestock cool and ensure there is plenty of access to clean drinking water.

The hot weather is impacting air quality. Due to the heat wave, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an ozone advisory Tuesday in multiple Southern California counties, including parts of Riverside County.

Air quality index (AQI) levels are expected to reach a designation of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or more severe in western Riverside County communities. Other areas, including cities in Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County, could also be potentially impacted.

The advisory went into effect at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and will last until 8 p.m. Friday, according to the SCAQMD.

The agency said it would provide an update if ozone levels maintained their high levels after the advisory expires.

Residents can view a full map of the areas affected at www.aqmd.gov/AQImap.

The excessive heat prompted the Imperial Irrigation District to issue a “conserve alert” Wednesday that will be in place until Friday, urging people to reduce their energy use.

The utility provides power to La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Bermuda Dunes and other unincorporated areas, as well as small parts of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells.

Customers were encouraged to conserve energy in the peak evening hours of 4 to 9 p.m. for the next three days, as the demand for power could outstrip supply.

Conserve alerts are issued when electrical demand is high, which generally occurs during heat waves.

The IID encouraged customers to set their thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using major appliances, turn off unnecessary lights, unplug or turn off unused electrical devices, keep blinds and drapes closed, and use floor or ceiling fans when possible.

More information can be found at iid.com/conservealert.

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