West Coast Wrings Out
The West Coast was soaked by storms Monday that dropped over an inch of rain or up to 10 inches of snow, capping a wet weekend. Forecasters say more harsh weather is due by the end of the week.
A storm system that originated in the Gulf of Alaska pushed scattered areas of showers into Oregon and Washington, and heavier rainfall swept across southern California and into southern Nevada and western Arizona.
California rainfall included 1.80 inches Monday at Santa Barbara, and on Sunday 3.96 inches fell at Mount Wilson and 2.17 inches fell near Ojai.
Flooding prompted authorities to close a three-mile section of the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach.
The rain turned to snow in the mountains, and police reported numerous accidents on highways leading to Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake and other resorts.
In the Sierra Nevada, 6 to 10 inches of snow piled up at higher elevations. Winter storm warnings were posted for most of the Sierra and for the mountains of southern California, and a snow advisory was issued for the Lake Tahoe area.
California Highway Patrol reports there were more than 150 auto accidents in Los Angeles County alone over the weekend.
Forecasters say the downpour was just a prelude to what will be the most powerful storm series to hit the region this winter. They say that will be along by mid-week, with 2-4 inches of rain in some areas, and up to a foot of snow in the mountains.
One system is expected to dump up to two inches of rain along the coast and four inches in the foothills of the mountains through Monday. The mountains will get one foot of snow. The system is also expected to pack hail, lightening and 50-mile-an-hour winds in mountains and passes.
A winter storm warning has been issued for Southern California mountains above 4,000 until 2:30 Monday afternoon.
A flash flood watch also has been issued for the burned areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
A brief clearing is expected Tuesday with another storm moving in Wednesday afternoon.
Winter storm warnings and snow advisories also were in effect for Monday night in parts of northern Arizona.