More Rainfall Expected From Winter Storm

The tail of a winter storm moving south from the Gulf of Alaska is expected to continue its brush across Ventura County today, bringing cold weather and light rain, forecasters said.

The first touches of rain and thick cloud cover hit the county Friday, prompting Thanksgiving vacationers to bypass the beach for the warmth of crowded malls.

At a Ventura auto parts store, a salesperson reported long lines for windshield wipers as customers prepared for the prospect of a wet winter. State lifeguards reported empty beaches despite the holiday weekend.

Scattered showers dropped less than a quarter of an inch of rain on the county Friday, and forecasters reported a 40% chance of similar precipitation today.

“This storm is covering a huge area all the way down from Oregon, but in our area we can expect to see mostly cold air, some light showers and wind,” said Bill Hoffer, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Overnight, snow is expected in the county’s mountain areas as low as 3,500 feet.

For those planning a drive into the mountains, National Park officials recommended travelers carry chains because of icy road conditions, and they suggested warm clothing because of the chilly overnight lows.

Temperatures tonight are expected to drop into the 30s, Hoffer said.

For the county’s farmers, the cold front could require protection from potentially freezing temperatures in higher elevations, according to a report by Terry Schaeffer, a National Weather Service agricultural specialist.

The storm system is expected to dissipate by late tonight.