First rain of the season snarls traffic, but record-breaking heat is on the way

Another weak cold front moved through Southern California on Monday morning, bringing the first rain of the season to a large swath of the state.

Drivers were met with light rain and slick roads that jammed traffic in parts of Los Angeles and caused multiple crashes.

A collision on the 710 Freeway caused a major closure near Atlantic Boulevard in Vernon. The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. and was cleared just before 4 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

Another crash on the eastbound 91 Freeway in Long Beach left all lanes closed around 2 a.m., the CHP said.

The National Weather Service warned of large waves and strong rip currents at Los Angeles County beaches.

Light to moderate rain was expected to hit the Central Coast through Monday morning, the weather service said. Gusty winds are expected across the mountains and the Antelope Valley.

Temperatures in Los Angeles will reach the low to mid 70s, but the wet weather won’t last long. Fire weather moves into the region Tuesday, forecasters said, as temperatures rise and humidity drops.

A fire watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through Thursday night and “extreme fire danger” is possible this week due to Sundowner and Santa Ana winds.

Those winds could bring record-breaking heat to Southern California from Wednesday through Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching 100 degrees in Los Angeles and Woodland Hills and 101 degrees in Long Beach.

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Here are some tips on how to drive safely in rainy weather.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more California news follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini

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