The atmospheric river storm that dumped record rainfall in Northern California is bringing much less rain to Southern California.
“The whole thing weakened and moved down the coast,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “This is its last breath.”
Rain moved into San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties Saturday morning and was expected to reach Los Angeles County by noon.
Los Angeles and Ventura counties could see anywhere from a tenth to three-quarters of an inch of rain. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties could see an inch in some places – except for an area in the foothills of northwest San Luis Obispo County, where the Rocky Butte weather station had recorded more than three inches of rain by 9. I am here, said Sirard.
A second round of rain was expected to begin Sunday in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and move south, possibly reaching Los Angeles County Sunday night or Monday, where there is a 40 to 50 percent chance of more rain, Sirard said. Showers could last through Wednesday, he said. There is also a slight chance of rain over San Luis Obispo County on Thanksgiving Day, he added.
That second storm system could produce a total of half an inch of rain in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties; one-third to one-half inch for Venutra County and one-tenth to one-quarter inch for Los Angeles County.
There is little chance of severe flooding or other significant problems in Southern California, forecasters said, although roads may become slick.
Concerns about the coming rainy season have been growing among residents who live near and around the Portuguese Bend landslide area in Rancho Palos Verdes, because increased rainfall leads to more groundwater – which is the impetus for ongoing destructive earth movements.
But city officials hope that “comprehensive winterization efforts,” including improving drainage, filling cracks and canyon walls, can help mitigate the impact of any new rain. Most of those projects have been completed, but others are still ongoing. The project aims to “better prepare for the coming rainy season,” said David Copp, the city’s deputy director of public works.
Parts of the landslide have seen a recent decline, and, in some areas, even complete stabilization, the city reported, but more rain remains a concern in this unstable region.
In Northern California, the storm brought several feet of snow to the Sierra along with flooding and the threat of mudslides.
