March Comes In Like the Cowardly Lion

March came in like an awakening lion--with more of a yawn than a growl--as Monday’s downpour turned to light sprinkles Tuesday in the Los Angeles Basin.

The .04 of an inch of rain recorded at the Civic Center was in sharp contrast to Monday’s storm, which produced up to about 2 inches in some of the mountainous areas of northern Los Angeles County.

But Monday’s storm and its attendant flooding and traffic snarls were child’s play contrasted with a deluge that slammed into the Los Angeles area 50 years ago today.

6.29 Inches of Rain

That storm was of historic proportions, dumping 6.29 inches of rain on the area in one day, driving thousands from their homes, sweeping away bridges, killing more than two dozen people and causing property damage in the millions.

Even with Monday’s storm, the Southland still is running well behind the normal rain level for this time of the year, according to meteorologist Mike Smith of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

The rain total for the season, which began July 1, now stands at 8.85 inches against a normal level of 11.16 inches, Smith said. However, he added, this year’s total is still about 2 inches more than had fallen by the same time a year ago.

Other Southland rainfall figures, from 4 p.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Tuesday, included .20 of an inch in Beaumont, .41 in Culver City, .12 in Long Beach, .55 in Pasadena, .12 in Santa Barbara, .81 in Santa Monica, and .05 in Woodland Hills.

Rainfall during February totaled 1.72 inches at the Civic Center, the National Weather Service said. That is 1.24 inches below normal for the month, forecasters pointed out.

Smith said the intensity of Monday’s storm caught him a little by surprise.

“I don’t think we saw it would be quite as heavy as it was,” he said. “It’s late in the season for that sort of thing, but not unusual.”

By Tuesday, though, the moisture had all but disappeared although a few more showers were possible overnight night because of a low-pressure system moving south-southeast from San Francisco, Smith said.

Gusty Winds Expected

Gusty north-to-northwest winds up to 25 m.p.h. are also expected to develop as high pressure reasserts itself over the western states, the National Weather Service said.

Today, Smith said, skies should begin clearing, and there is “a pretty good weekend” in store for the Southland with clear skies and temperatures in the upper 60s to 70s during the day.

Elsewhere Tuesday, heavy snow fell in California’s Sierra Nevada, Shasta and Siskiyou ranges.

Meanwhile, 38 tenants evacuated Monday from a downtown Los Angeles apartment building when rain began leaking through their ceilings were allowed to return to the building Tuesday the Red Cross said. The residents had been housed Monday night at a Red Cross center set up at Belmont High School.