More rain, snow in SoCal, but deadly winter storm is passing

After days of historic rainfall from a deadly atmospheric river storm, forecasters say some dry weather is finally on the horizon for Southern California — but not until after a smaller system will bring some additional rain and snow to the region.

A new low pressure system is moving into the area Wednesday, bringing a cold front and further precipitation — though nothing as severe as the major system that dumped more than a foot of rain in some parts of Los Angeles County since Sunday, causing mudslides, flooding, widespread power outages and forced evacuations.

The statewide death toll from the storm has climbed to nine, including four people hit by trees in Northern California and three motorists who died after crashes in Central and Southern California, according to state officials.

In the Los Angeles area, the next storm could bring another half-inch of rain Wednesday night to the metro area and up to an inch in the foothills and mountains, said Mike Wofford, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard.

“A storm like this — if we hadn’t had so much rain before — wouldn’t be a big deal,” Wofford said. But with the ground still saturated and many hillsides still precarious from debris flows and muslides, “there could be some additional issues because of that.”

He said most of the area should be able to handle the additional precipitation, but said residents in neighborhoods that already saw slides, especially in the Santa Monica mountains, should remain cautious. Rainfall totals topped 13 inches in some locations there and in the San Gabriel mountains, including Bel-Air, Topanga and Cogswell Dam north of Monrovia.

Evacuation warnings are still in effect near several burn scars in the northern San Gabriel Mountains and in parts of Culver City.

Regions further south and east of Los Angeles County could get some heavier rainfall from this next storm, which is forecast to hit San Diego and the San Bernardino mountains slightly later Wednesday and linger through Friday.

“We do have some precipitation coming through until Friday, but hopefully by Saturday we dry out a little bit,” said John Suk, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Diego. “I think this weekend’s going to be the first real break that we’re seeing.”

A flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday night across much of southwestern California, including Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, with up to an inch or two of additional rain expected.

“This additional rain falling onto saturated soil will increase the flood potential,” the alert said.

The San Diego River at Fashion Valley mall and downstream from the Prado Reservoir in Chino and West Corona, had more heightened flood advisories in place Wednesday, warning of minor flooding, especially in low-lying areas.

The next, chillier storm is expected to be more snow-focused, with up to 2 feet of snow falling Wednesday through Thursday across the Sierra and in the Southern California mountains.

A winter storm warning remains in effect through Thursday morning for the Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego mountains, with elevations as low as 4,000 feet expected to get up to 6 inches of snow.

“This is a colder storm,” Wofford said, “so the snow levels are lower.”

As of late Tuesday, Mountain High had already received 30 inches of snow from the last storm; Mount Baldy had 2 feet, Snow Valley was at 18 inches and Wrightwood at 10 inches, Suk said. Mountain High, one of the highest peaks, had gotten 51 inches as of Wednesday morning, Wofford said, and accumulation had been recorded as low as 4,500 feet.

Wofford said there could be some issues for travelers on the Grapevine on Thursday and Friday.