Locally Heavy Rainfall, Winds Expected Today

The convergence of two moist weather systems--a warm one from the subtropical Pacific and a much cooler one from the Gulf of Alaska--is expected to bring substantial rain to a parched Southern California today.

Showers began falling in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties late Monday, and forecasters said the precipitation should become widespread by dawn, with between half an inch and an inch of rain in the coastal valleys and about twice that much in foothill communities.

Forecasters said the showers could become locally heavy at times, with as much as 2 inches falling in some isolated canyon areas. Gusty winds are expected, especially in the mountains and below canyon passes.

The precipitation is expected to taper off tonight, with the possibility of a few scattered showers Wednesday morning.

Because much of the weather has been generated over the subtropical waters of the central Pacific, temperatures will remain on the warm side, with a relatively high snow level of between 7,500 and 8,000 feet in Southern California’s mountains.

While the precipitation will help, it probably won’t be enough to put an appreciable dent in southern California’s prolonged dry spell.

Only .89 of an inch of rain has fallen on the Los Angeles weather station since July 1, less than one-seventh of the normal total.