Precipitation Pelts Area, More Due; Driving Is Risky

An unstable mass of air trailing Thursday’s chilly storm dropped scattered rain, hail and snow on Southern California on Friday evening, and forecasters said a new storm should bring more precipitation tonight and Sunday.

Despite briefly heavy rain in a number of areas Friday, there were no reports of new mudslides on the hillsides denuded during last fall’s destructive brush fires in Laguna Beach, Malibu and Altadena. There were some slides in Malibu on Thursday, but damage was generally light.

In San Clemente, 12 cars collided on the rain-slick Interstate 5 Friday afternoon, slightly injuring one driver. All northbound lanes were shut down for about 15 minutes at Camino de Estrella as tow trucks moved the cars, said California Highway Patrol Officer Rick Pena. Traffic backed up for about a mile and a half, and was delayed about 45 minutes, he said.

About a 10th of an inch of rain fell in southern Orange County Friday. Temperatures were expected to be in the mid--50s today.

Pea-size hail was reported during a blustery thundershower in Banning on Friday, and National Weather Service observers said their radar showed ice pellets in several cloudbursts.

Officials said heavy snow fell Friday afternoon at Idyllwild, Wrightwood and Big Bear City, with as much as six inches piling up in some areas by nightfall.

Snow levels as low as 3,000 feet, with temperatures dropping into the 20s, were reported in some parts of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains Friday night. Police said driving conditions were hazardous in most mountain areas.

Forecasters said the center of the new storm will pass to the north of the Los Angeles area. They said there’s a slight chance of a few additional sprinkles through Monday, with skies clearing again on Tuesday.