Los Angeles will end the year shattering records after enduring one of its driest periods in history, a result of La Niña’s lingering effects, weather officials said.

Despite beginning the year with historic rainfall levels, an extended dry spell has covered Southern California since spring, bringing severe drought conditions that have fueled several large wildfires in recent months.

In the downtown L.A. metro area, from May 6 to Dec. 31, the area only received 0.16″ of rain, making this seven-month stretch the second driest in L.A. history, according to data from the National Weather Service.

The only period that topped this dry stretch was in 1962 when the downtown area received only 0.14 inches during the same seven-month span.

The driest periods recorded for the downtown L.A. metro area from May 6 to Dec. 31:

During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the south and cooler than normal in the north. The phenomenon can have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems and more, according to NWS.

“During La Niña events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia,” NWS explained. “Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. These cold waters in the Pacific push the jet stream northward and tend to lead to drought in the southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.”

In recent years, the weather pattern has brought severe drought conditions to Southern California, fostering dangerous conditions for wildfires.

In the coming new year, a chance to break the dry spell may arrive soon with a potential storm system headed for California around New Year’s Day or in the first week of January, according to Todd Hall, a senior meteorologist at the NWS offices in L.A. and Oxnard.

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The FAA is investigating an incident at Los Angeles International Airport where a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another plane was taking off.

The close call occurred last Friday afternoon and was livestreamed by Airline Videos.

The Key Lime Air jet was told to stop by air traffic controllers as a Delta flight took off.

“When the Embraer E135 jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop,” the FAA said in a statement. “The jet never crossed the runway edge line.”

No injuries were reported.

The livestream included audio of the controller urgently saying, “Stop, stop, stop.”

Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for a game against UCLA.

“We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and we will review this information as it becomes available. Our team members aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation as it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all,” the university said.

Key Lime Air did not respond to the Associated Press’s requests for comment, and Delta reported no issues with its flight.

“Delta flight 471 operated as normal, and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials on their investigation,” the airline said.

The Key Lime Air flight had taken off from Spokane International Airport earlier that day. The FAA continues to investigate the situation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A motorist recently found himself face-to-face with a bulldozer after making a wrong turn into a concrete and asphalt plant in the Inland Empire.

The incident captured on surveillance video and shared Monday by the Upland Police Department took place Friday at the Holliday Rock property in the area of North Benson Avenue and Base Line Road. 

The video showed the driver had trouble maneuvering through a muddy area before nearly crashing into a bulldozer.

“His Ford Escape quickly reminded him it was no Bronco and threw in the towel,” the Police Department stated on the post.

The unidentified driver exited the vehicle wearing sweatpants and a hoodie and was immediately taken into custody.

The driver, who was unlicensed and suspected of driving under the influence, “went to jail and his vehicle impounded,” police said.

No workers were injured and no equipment was damaged during the incident.

Holliday Rock is one of the largest independent producers of asphalt, aggregate and concrete in the United States with locations in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, according to its website.