Rain, Minor Accidents Tie Up Commuter Traffic on Freeways

Commuter traffic stalled on Los Angeles-area freeways this morning as light rain made the pavement slick, contributing to dozens of minor accidents.

A clogged drain added to the problem, flooding the Santa Monica Freeway downtown at Santa Fe Avenue and backing up eastbound traffic as far west as Centinela Avenue in West Los Angeles.

Richard Perez, a watch officer for the California Highway Patrol, said four traffic advisories were issued during the morning--one for the clogged drain, two for accidents that jammed traffic in both directions on the San Diego Freeway near the Marina Freeway and one for a bus that skidded off the southbound San Gabriel River Freeway in the Santa Fe Springs area, backing up vehicles as far north as Baldwin Park.

Thousands of motorists abandoned the freeways and sought alternate routes, adding to the congestion on surface streets.

The National Weather Service said there is a 30% chance of showers this afternoon, tonight and Friday as a strong onshore flow continues to pump cool, moist marine air from the Pacific in over the Southland. Heavier rain may fall with the arrival of a major storm system sometime Sunday or early Monday.