Rain fell on the Southland early Thursday as a result of the first of two storm systems forecast to strike the Southland.
Rainfall totals ranging from a tenth of an inch to a half-inch are expected across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with up to an inch in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and foothills, as a result of the first storm, which arrived Wednesday packing an infusion of moisture from south of Los Angeles and which is forecast to clear out by this afternoon, National Weather Service forecasters said.
They said there could be minor debris and mud flows overnight, especially if thunderstorms develop.
“Another more dynamic storm system is expected to move down from the Gulf of Alaska and approach the forecast area by Friday afternoon. There could be some light rain ahead of the main storm system, but expect moderate to locally heavy rain Friday evening through the overnight hours,” according to an NWS statement.
Flash flood watches might need to be issued in areas below slopes denuded by wildfires, it said, adding that the rain will turn to showers by early Saturday morning.
The second storm, which originated to the north in the Gulf of Alaska, is expected to produce from a half-inch to an inch of rain in coastal and valley and between one and two inches in the San Gabriel Mountains, the statement said.
“There will likely be some local urban flooding with this system and the possibilities of mud and debris flows across recent burn areas,” it said.
Wind advisories expired at 3 a.m. in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys, beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. But a wind advisory was scheduled to be in effect until 9 a.m. in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains.
But the NWS warned that winds of 15 and 25 miles per hour gusting to 40 mph could continue until mid-morning even in areas where wind advisories expired while in the mountains it will blow at between 20 and 30 mph, with 50- mph gusts.
“Gusty winds will make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” warned an NWS statement, advising extra caution. “The gusty winds will also cause downed trees and could cause power outages.”
The NWS forecast showers Thursday in L.A. County and highs of 58 degrees Fahrenheit in Palmdale; 59 in Lancaster; 60 on Mount Wilson; 64 in Avalon and Saugus; 67 in Long Beach, San Gabriel, Burbank and at LAX; 68 in downtown L.A. and Pasadena; and 70 in Woodland Hills.
Friday’s L.A. County forecast calls for rain and highs 5-6 degrees lower than Thursday, followed by showers and temperatures in the 50s on Saturday, then partly cloudy skies and temperatures back in the low 60s on Christmas Day.
A combination of showers and partly cloudy skies was forecast in Orange County Thursday, along with highs of 63 in Laguna Beach; 64 in San Clemente; 65 in Newport Beach, Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda; and 66 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine.
Friday’s forecast in Orange County envisions cloudy skies Friday and highs only marginally lower than Thursday’s, followed by rain and highs in the mid to high 50s Saturday and sunny skies, with temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s on Christmas Day.
—City News Service