Heavy Rains Strand 3 Hikers Near River

Three people were stranded by fast-moving waters over the weekend, following a North Pacific storm that dumped more than 4 inches of rain in the Ventura County back country.

The storm was pushed through the area by upper-level winds, knocking down electrical wires and making roadways slick throughout the county. Law enforcement agencies responded to numerous traffic accidents, none involving serious injuries.

Forecasters expect mostly clear skies through the end of the week, with Christmas Day shaping up to be a gorgeous day--temperatures in the 60s to 70s along the coast, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Gary Ryan.

The storm, which began in the Gulf of Alaska, dropped 4.02 inches of rain on Nordhoff Ridge in Los Padres National Forest, making it the wettest spot in the county, Ryan said. Unlike subtropical storms, which drop a lot of rain over a long period of time, North Pacific storms are usually shorter in duration, but can still bring heavy rain.

Flooding is not as likely with such storms, Ryan said.

The rain, which began Saturday night, stranded three hikers about 11:30 a.m. Sunday in the Sespe Creek area of Los Padres National Forest. A Ventura County Sheriff’s Department helicopter crew pulled Gunnar and Barbara Ericksonh of Malibu from an “island” in the rain-swollen river near the Lions campground, said Senior Deputy Frank Underlin.

They told deputies that the river had risen 6 feet Saturday night, becoming unsafe to cross, Underlin said. Hikers in the area Sunday contacted Forest Service authorities, who requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Department.

A third hiker, who was not identified, got stranded across the river and also had to be airlifted to the campground, Underlin said.

Rain is not in the forecast until Friday, Ryan said. “And Christmas Day looks real nice. About as good as it gets.”