Storm Moves East, Leaves Possibility of Fair Thanksgiving

The storm that was something less than the expected deluge moved eastward Monday, leaving Southern California with leaden skies, scattered showers and a half-hearted promise of a fair Thanksgiving.

The front that moved into the area Sunday morning had dropped 1.16 inch of rain on downtown Los Angeles by Monday afternoon, bringing the season total to 2.68 inches--more than half an inch above the normal to date.

Except for some minor mud and rock slides in the Malibu area, there was none of the trouble that had been feared in the wake of the summer and autumn brush fires that denuded about 200,000 Southland acres.

Flood Watches Stopped

Flash flood watches expired in extreme southeastern Santa Barbara County and all of Ventura County, scenes of some of the biggest of those blazes. More than three inches of rain was reported in parts of Ventura County, but no major problems developed.

A vigorous storm passing through the Imperial Beach area in San Diego County spawned a funnel cloud at mid-afternoon, but no damage was reported.

No more showers were foreseen for today by the National Weather Service, which said skies should be partly cloudy, and downtown Los Angeles temperatures should be in the mid- to upper 60s.

Monday’s downtown high was 65 after an overnight low of 54 degrees. Relative humidity ranged from 93% to 54%.

On Thanksgiving Day, forecasters said, Los Angeles temperatures should be in the high 60s for the coastal area, in the high 40s or lower 50s for the mountains and in the 50s and 60s in the deserts.

Scattered showers continued throughout Southern California on Monday, pelting the Los Angeles area briskly at times but causing fewer morning rush-hour traffic accidents than usually occur on a normal Monday. California Highway Patrol officers said motorists probably were being more cautious.

A mail truck crashed into the center divider on the Orange Freeway south of Katella Avenue in Anaheim, tying up commuters for a time. The driver was not hurt.

Traffic Slowed by Flooding

Traffic also was slowed by runoff water on Pacific Coast Highway in the Las Flores Canyon area, scene of one of the recent brush fires, but the CHP said things were back to normal by 8:30 a.m.

There were nine traffic fatalities in Los Angeles County on Sunday, but it was not known how many were weather-related.

Long Beach police, however, did blame the slick pavement for the death of a gasoline tanker truck driver who apparently lost control of his vehicle on the Artesia Freeway on Sunday night. The rig struck the center divider and was ripped open, spilling its load. The unidentified driver was caught in the cab and burned to death when the truck caught fire.

The storm brought only rain and slush to Southern California mountains. Ski lift operators were hoping for some snow above the 6,000-foot line overnight. Mountain motorists were being warned about heavy winds and dense fog tonight and Wednesday.

Things were better for skiers in Central and Northern California. The Automobile Club of Southern California reported that Boreal, Sugar Bowl, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose, Badger Pass and Sierra Ski Ranch all had from 11 to 20 inches of new snow. Mammoth had 2 to 3 feet of new snow, while Bear Valley had 32 inches.

The weather service said 3.41 inches of rain fell at Mt. Wilson by 5 p.m. Monday, while 2.63 fell at Torrance and 2 inches fell in Santa Monica. Long Beach had 1.75; Culver City, 1.19; Monrovia, 1.37; Montebello, 1.43; Pasadena, 1.29 and Santa Barbara, 1.54.

As the storm moved on through Nevada, snow and slippery roads prompted travelers’ advisories in the northeastern part of that state.

RAIN IN THE REGION

Rainfall 24 hours ending 4 p.m. 1.16 in. Total rainfall this month 2.07 in. Total rainfall since July 1 2.68 in. Total rainfall this date last year 2.21 in. Normal rainfall to this date 2.12 in.

National Weather Service rainfall statistics are for the Los Angeles Civic Center.