Rain Brings Traffic Snarls, Wrecks : Weather: Communities are drenched as first in series of three Pacific storms moves into county. Crash blocks eastbound lanes of Riverside Freeway.

The first of three warm Pacific storms chugged into Orange County on Thursday, drenching communities with as much as an inch of rain, triggering traffic snarls and accidents on freeways and streets and laying a thick blanket of pristine snow on nearby ski slopes.

The brunt of the rainstorm began to move east into the desert areas late Thursday, meteorologists said, leaving expectations of only scattered showers this morning and a general clearing later today.

But Southland residents can expect to endure more damp days before the weekend is out. Dry weather is not expected to return until at least Wednesday.

“The storms are lined up to clobber us,” said Rick Ditman, a meteorologist for Wichita, Kan.-based WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

The California Highway Patrol said that officers were dispatched to more than 100 accidents Thursday on area freeways. Dozens more fender benders were reported on streets by city police departments.

The most spectacular rain-related accident occurred at 8:20 a.m. on the rain-slicked Riverside Freeway in Anaheim, closing the eastbound lanes for about two hours.

CHP spokeswoman Angel Johnson said that Jose Pena, 27, of Long Beach was driving a big-rig east on the freeway near East Street when traffic ahead of him suddenly slowed.

Pena slammed on his brakes but rear-ended a car driven by Alber McEwan, 50, of Cerritos, Johnson said. McEwan’s car then bounced off the cement barrier, veered off the roadway and struck a tree.

The big-rig, meanwhile, also hit the center divider and rolled over, Johnson said. Another car, driven by Cirinio Puno, 26, of Buena Park, then plowed into the rig.

Pena and McEwan suffered only minor injuries and were taken to Anaheim Memorial Hospital for treatment, Johnson said. Puno was not injured, although his car was demolished.

The eastbound lanes were reopened two hours later when the CHP called off a SigAlert.

“It really tied up traffic,” Johnson said. “But we’ve been busy all day everywhere.”

Johnson said many fender-benders occurred when vehicles being driven too fast hydroplaned on wet pavement.

Johnson suggested that during rainy weather motorists slow down and leave ample space between cars.

“This gives you extra time to react, stop and slow down,” she said. “It also prevents you from hitting someone in front if you are hit from behind.”

Meteorologist Ditman said the second storm, which is lingering near the Hawaiian Islands, is expected to hit Southern California by Sunday morning and “stall out” over the Southland until at least Monday.

As much as five inches of rain could fall by Wednesday afternoon, when the third storm moves out of the area, Ditman said. Southern California has received 5.5 inches of rain for the season, which began July 1. Ditman said that is about 64% of normal rainfall.

“If we can get more of these direct hits from the storms, we will be sitting pretty,” Ditman said.

Thursday’s storm brought as much as a foot of much-needed snow to local ski resorts, officials there said. Chains were recommended for anyone traveling to the San Bernardino or San Gabriel mountains.

“It’s snowing now as we speak,” said Sylvia Morales, a spokeswoman at the Mountain High ski resort in Wrightwood. She added that the slopes received six inches of new powder in two hours Thursday afternoon. “It’s really beautiful.”

The foul weather actually made it a good day for the most dedicated surfers, who braved chilly waters to ride ocean swells of about four to six feet. From Huntington Beach to San Clemente, lifeguards reported no debris and only spotty brown water from river runoff. County health officials issued no warnings of contaminated ocean water, a common occurrence during stormy weather.

Laguna Beach lifeguard Julian Harvey said a steady stream of hard-core surfers paddled out in the water throughout the day. He said an offshore breeze, along with a brisk swell, helped form picture-perfect waves.

“I can hardly wait until 5 o’clock so I can go out too,” Harvey said.

But in Santa Ana, residents of a condominium complex at 2229 N. Broadway were not having a good time as rainwater began seeping through ceilings.

One owner, Andres Lopez, said, “It seems like it’s raining more inside than outside.”

In San Juan Capistrano, where a landslide wiped out several houses two weeks ago, officials said the hillside was holding up, but that city engineers were keeping watch over the hill’s condition as the storms pass through.

“We’re driving by and keeping an eye on it,” said city spokesman Douglas Dumhart. “Everything’s OK, but this is just the start of the rain, though.”

County public works officials, who monitor runoff, reported no problems associated with the storm.

Times staff writers Eric Young and Donnette Dunbar contributed to this story.

New Storm Arrives Total rainfall as of 5 p.m. Thursday in inches Cypress: .98 Fullerton: .79 Anaheim: .79 Villa Park: .67 Westminster: .91 Santa Ana: .59 Irvine: .43 El Toro: .55 Mission Viejo: .63 Laguna Beach: .63 Huntington Beach: .94 Newport Beach: .75 Corona del Mar: .79 San Juan Capistrano: .39 Source: Orange County Environmental Management Agency