Wet Weather Is on the Way for Southland : Rain: In San Diego County, up to 2 inches of rain could fall west of mountains. Ten inches of snow could fall in the mountains.

John Sterner and Will Zuckerman did not care about the rain splashing down on Sterner’s shiny black 1966 Volvo sedan parked in a lot overlooking a premier surfing spot at Topanga State Beach on Sunday afternoon.

“Even in a wet suit, you’re going to get wet anyhow,” said Sterner, 29, a Malibu plumber, as the first of what is expected to be almost a week of rain hit the Los Angeles area. “Even if it was bright and sunny we’d be doing the same thing we’re doing now.”

Will, 13, who said he is an “apprentice surfer,” nodded in agreement. “We’re out here every day,” he said. “The rain doesn’t make any difference as long as the surf’s good.”

The waves rose with the incoming tide, and the two abandoned their refuge to don wet suits and plunge into the ocean.

They may do even better today, when swells generated by a storm off the coast are expected to create breakers as tall as 14 feet.

The National Weather Service warned that it is extremely dangerous to fish in these troubled waters, or to gawk at the waves from exposed rocks or buildings, because very large waves can suddenly sweep across dry areas.

With the jet stream sinking to the south and affecting all of the southwestern part of the country, the precipitation could total as much as an inch or more, said Rick Dittmann, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. He said the rain will taper off Tuesday before resuming Thursday and Friday.

In San Diego, a winter storm warning for the mountains and a heavy surf advisory went into effect Sunday night. The strong Pacific storm is expected to bring showers--heavy at times with thunderstorms--to San Diego County with surf between 7 and 10 feet and 20 to 30 m.p.h. winds from the southeast, according to the National Weather Service.

Rainfall totals west of the mountains are expected to be between three quarters of an inch and two inches. In the local mountains, rainfall is expected to total as much as three inches. The snow level is expected to drop to about 4,000 feet, with an expected snow accumulation of five to 10 inches.

Showers are expected to taper off late today as the storm moves eastward. Highs in all areas of the county today are expected to be 58 to 64, with lows inland dropping to 40 and, in the mountains, below freezing.

Tuesday is expected to be partly cloudy and breezy.

“Needless to say, we’ve gone into a wet weather pattern,” Dittmann said. “Based on the past five or six years, we could use the snow pack and reservoirs getting filled. Of course this storm or couple of storms won’t serve that purpose, but it’s a start.”

More than 0.25 of an inch of rain had fallen at Point Mugu by Sunday afternoon, and by early evening heavy rain was falling at the Los Angeles Civic Center.

The snow level was expected to drop to about 3,500 feet today, according to the National Weather Service, with 25-35 m.p.h. winds and up to a foot of snow expected in the mountains from the San Bernardinos to the Tehachapis.

The cold front that came in over the weekend prompted Los Angeles city officials to open shelters for the homeless at the Van Nuys and West Los Angeles armories, San Pedro Residential Center, Weingart Center downtown and the Tiny Town Kollege in South-Central Los Angeles.

Together, the shelters can take in 1,280 people, said Patricia Huff, the city’s homeless coordinator.

Times staff writer Andrew LePage in San Diego contributed to this story.