LOCAL : Brief Downpours Dampen Some Orange County Communities
A weak cold front moving through Southern California this morning triggered brief downpours in some South Orange County communities, but left little more than wet blotches on dusty sidewalks and car hoods in other areas.
By noon, most South County communities had measurable rainfall, county environmental resources officials said.
The storm was expected to move northward and out of the area by the afternoon, giving residents only a taste of winter-like conditions.
“Don’t hold your breath. I don’t think there’s going to be a whole lot going on,” said meteorologist Ken Smith of WeatherData, which provides forecasting for The Times. “Some areas will just get a trace.”
Smith also said the storm will likely drop only a light snow cover in the local ski resorts. “It’s not a very optimistic outlook for people looking for ski weather,” he said.
Smith said another front forming off the Gulf of Alaska will increase chances for a more powerful rainstorm by late Thursday or Friday. Forecasts for the weekend call for about a 40% chance of rain.
He added, however, that the conditions for a storm strong enough to put a dent in the four-year drought have not appeared and are unlikely to form in the near future.
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