Light Rain a Burden on Roads

A misty shower extended its gentle embrace over Southern California on Monday, slowing traffic to a crawl, causing scores of accidents and bringing wind gusts to canyons and deserts.

The California Highway Patrol said its officers were kept busy handling a steady stream of accidents on Orange County freeways.

Authorities reported that at least one fatal accident occurred on the rain-slick roads. A 2-year-old Anaheim girl was killed when the car she was riding in went out of control, jumped a curb into oncoming traffic and struck a tree. Anaheim police said it was not clear whether rain was a factor in the incident, which occurred on Haster Street near Orangewood Avenue.

Elsewhere in the county, traffic congestion was extremely heavy. CHP Officer Linda Burrus said officers handled about five multi-vehicle accidents and “numerous ramp collisions where vehicles went over the side of the road. . . . Luckily there weren’t any bad injuries.”

On the Santa Ana Freeway near the Garden Grove Freeway interchange, a big-rig auto transporter jackknifed and blocked southbound traffic for more than 2 1/2 hours.

As badly as Southern California needs rain, forecasters said Monday’s drizzle would amount to no more than two-tenths of an inch--hardly enough to proclaim an end to the drought.

Some showers will persist through this afternoon before skies begin clearing, said Steve Burback, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

For all the havoc the rains played with Southland freeways, winds threatened to compound motorists’ misery with gusts ranging from 30 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. in canyons and below mountain passes.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Monday night and today in the upper deserts, where gusts are expected to reach 35 m.p.h. with some blowing dust and sand.

Visibility will be as low as 200 to 300 feet on occasion, and drivers on Interstate 15 to Las Vegas or Interstate 40 to Needles should use caution because the winds will affect both highways, the Weather Service said.

Monday’s rain, which began about 1 p.m., was a result of a cold front sweeping down from Central California and a developing storm system in the upper atmosphere, Burback said.

As the showers move east today, a warming trend will begin, he said. Highs today along the coast will reach the upper 60s, the Los Angeles Civic Center will see a high of about 68, and the mercury will climb to the low 70s farther inland, he said.

Staff writer Matt Lait contributed to this report from Orange County.