LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A storm headed for the Southland today and is expected to douse parts of L.A. County before clearing out early Saturday afternoon, forecasters said.
The storm is expected to reach the county after midnight and linger for about 12 hours, producing between a half-inch and an inch of rain, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Rorke.
No serious flooding, debris flows or mudslides are expected as a result of this system. But they are not totally inconceivable. The Woolsey fire zone in Ventura and L.A. counties will be the area of greatest concern, Rorke said, and the threat will increase in case of thunderstorms.
Then beginning Sunday, storms will slide in “one after the other” through Thursday, possibly producing 2 to 4 inches of rain, Rorke said, adding three weather systems may be involved. He said this period is proving “squirrelly” to forecast.
“We're expecting 12 to 18 hours of dangerously heavy rain,” he said. But with various models in conflict, it's not possible to say this morning when or where that dangerous period will take place, he added.
Along the coast, a beach hazard statement -- which is a little less serious than a high surf advisory -- is in effect through Sunday in L.A. and Orange counties. Surf of 4-6 feet is expected in L.A. County and 5-8 feet in Orange County.
The NWS forecast mostly cloudy skies during daytime hours today and highs of 57 degrees on Mount Wilson; 59 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 61 in Avalon; 64 at LAX; 65 in Saugus; 66 in Long Beach and San Gabriel; and 67 in Downtown L.A., Pasadena, Burbank and Woodland Hills. Showers are forecast Saturday, partly cloudy skies Sunday, then rain on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Partly cloudy skies were forecast in Orange County today, along with highs of 52 on Santiago Peak; 59 in San Clemente; 60 on Ortega Canyon at 2,600 feet; 61 in Fremont Canyon and Laguna Beach; 62 in Newport Beach; 63 in Yorba Linda; 64 in Mission Viejo; and 65 in Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine and Trabuco Canyon.
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