Why LA locals flip out when it rains

Article Summary:

• Los Angeles typically has good weather, so most people don’t understand why locals freak out when it rains.
• It’s not all drama. There are some serious problems locals face when it rains in LA – from unpredictable mudslides to deadly traffic accidents.
• You can still have a good time in LA if you visit during a rainy period, but you’ll have to know what to avoid doing and where to avoid going. 

For a topic that’s essentially synonymous with mundane, weather gets a lot of coverage. 

As an LA local, I often hear the same two questions, one right after the next. “Isn’t the weather usually really good there? How come y’all flip out when it rains?”  

The first generally seems to be rhetorical. Fair enough, Southern California typically has fantastic weather. Folks around here love a bit of mindfulness and gratitude, often inspired by LA’s incredible beaches or the wonders of nature along local hiking trails.

As for the second – equally fair! Vaguely judgy, but I get that. 

For someone who lives near a tornado siren or has to scrape half an inch of ice off their windshield every time they want to leave the house, whining about rain must seem ridiculous. 

And let’s be real, LA can’t be pointing fingers on judgy. That’s just the pot calling the kettle something you can boil water in.

Regardless, the rain does substantially impact life in LA, and I’ll walk you through what that looks like so you know what to expect (and why the locals freak) whenever it rains in LA.

Unpredictable Mudslides

Los Angeles is surrounded by hills and mountains, many of which are heavily populated. Getting a building to stay put on a slope is quite a feat in the best of times… but times change.

Disturbances of and changes to the natural stability of a slope can lead to the ground becoming entirely unstable and moving with little or no warning. 

Having your home or a neighbor’s home slide down a hill is an obvious and dangerous problem. So is stumbling upon a chunk of mountain where yesterday there was a road. 

Mudslides can do a lot of damage and, therefore grab a lot of headlines. We do love a bit of drama.     

That said, the average visitor to Los Angeles is unlikely to encounter this particular problem. Don’t go hiking during or immediately after a storm; stick to the coastline with the fewest cliffs, such as Santa Monica.

Dangerous Traffic

The rumors are true. Traffic is an LA resident’s arch nemesis. Because it doesn’t rain often, a layer of residue from exhaust, oil leaks, rubber, and all manner of other nastiness builds up on the roads. 

Remember slip ‘n’ slide? Dry, fine. But add water and some nearby foliage. Now there’s a 60/40 chance you’re flying headfirst into an elm tree. 

According to a 2019 study from USC, rain increases the odds an LA driver will be in an accident by 80%. For a lot of folks that’s more than enough reason to take a personal day, should that be an option. Which for a whole lot of folks, it’s not. 

Loss of Income

As a visitor, a rainy day might compel you to cancel the surf lesson, check out some of your hotel’s amenities, or explore dozens of other things to do when it’s rainy in LA. Completely logical thing to do.

But what about the surf instructor? Good weather is part of LA’s economy. 

A Film/TV production crew will work through just about anything short of lightning, but it’s going to cost a pretty penny. Not as much as canceling an entire day, though. That cost can swell to over a million bucks. 

Then there are the surf instructors, yoga teachers, personal trainers, dog walkers, half a dozen livestreamers interviewing strangers on the Santa Monica Pier, the guy dressed up as Thor on Hollywood Blvd, not to mention the four Jack Sparrows… the list goes on. 

For the most part, these are jobs that don’t come with personal days. No work, no pay. 

Many people have a second job, of course. As a rideshare driver, maybe.

So we panic a bit. In the grand scheme of things, can you really blame us? Probably. 

If the sky dumps 4 feet of snow on you every year and you drive to work on black ice, absolutely. But like I said, we’re pretty good with that. 

Los Angeles is a beautiful place. Most LA people have it far from easy, but it’s worth it. Beaches, mountains, world-class restaurants, movie stars, fashion icons… this place is amazing, and the weather is, generally speaking, the least of our concerns.

Unless it’s raining. 

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I hope you visit soon! Chances are you won’t have to deal with rain and you’ll be able to enjoy the best of Los Angeles activities for your next visit. But, if you do, check out my guide to what to do in LA when it rains.