California's wet winter continued Sunday, with rain heaviest into the evening and more precipitation forecast for Monday before tapering off Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
A flood watch was in effect for most of Los Angeles County until 10 p.m.
The coastal and valley regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties could receive about a half-inch to an inch more rain, and mountain areas would receive an additional one to two inches on Sunday, officials said. The next two days will be lighter, said Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist at the weather service office in Oxnard.
Rains in Southern California they have broken records this season, with some areas approaching average rainfall totals for an entire season. As of Sunday morning, the region had seen nearly 14 inches of rain since Oct. 1, more than three times the average of 4 inches for this time of year. The average rainy season, which runs from July 1 to June 30, is 14.25 inches, officials said.
“There's a chance we could already hit our average rainfall for the entire 12-month period later today if we end up getting a half-inch or more of rain,” Munroe added.
Wet weather caused multiple road closures over the weekend, including a 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Grand View Drive, as well as State Route 33 between Fairview Road and Lockwood Valley Road in the Los Padres National Forest. The California Department of Transportation also closed all lanes along State Route 2 from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb's Ranch to State Route 138 in the Angeles National Forest.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials say swimmers should stay out of the water to avoid higher bacteria levels caused by rain.
After storms, especially near storm drains, streams and rivers, water can become contaminated with Escherichia coligarbage, chemicals and other public health hazards.
The advisory, which will be in effect until at least 4 p.m. Monday, could be extended if the rain continues.
In Ventura County on Sunday, Highway 101 was reopened after lane closures due to flooding on Saturday. But there was at least one spin and a vehicle stuck in mud on the highway Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The freeway was also closed Saturday in Santa Barbara County in both directions near Goleta due to debris flows, but reopened Sunday, according to Caltrans.
The Santa Barbara airport reopened and all commercial flights and aircraft were cleared for normal operations Sunday morning. The airport closed and grounded all flights on Saturday due to flooded runways.
In Orange County early Sunday afternoon, firefighters rescued a man clinging to a section of a tunnel in cold, fast water in a storm trough at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street in Westminster, according to firefighters.
A swift-water rescue team deployed a helicopter, lowered inflated fire hoses and placed an aerial ladder to allow rescuers to secure the man and lift him to safety before transporting him to a hospital for evaluation.
Heavy rain continued to hit the mountainous areas of Southern California. Wrightwood in San Bernardino County, recently hit by mud and debris, was closed Sunday except to residents as heavy equipment was brought in to clear mud and debris from roads, news gathering organization OnScene reported.
After canceling live racing on New Year's Eve and Day due to heavy rain, Santa Anita Park also canceled the Saturday and Sunday events.
After several atmospheric river systems have passed, familiar conditions are expected to return to the region later this week.
“We'll get a nice break from the rain and allow things to dry out a little bit, and we may even be looking at Santa Ana conditions as we head into next weekend,” Munroe said. The weather is likely to be “mostly sunny” and windy in the valleys and mountains.
