Front Lingers Over Drenched Region

One of the most powerful storms of the season pummeled Ventura County on Sunday, dropping more than an inch of rain in some areas and prompting officials to again post a flash flood watch for parts of the Ojai area.

Though there was a break in the storm during the afternoon, the slow-moving front, originating in the Gulf of Alaska, was expected to linger over the region through this morning, bringing cold temperatures, blustery winds and a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail.

With the region already heavily saturated, forecasters said more rain could cause mudslides in the burn areas of the Upper Ojai, which were left barren and vulnerable by a 4,400-acre ranch fire in December.

Officials advised residents living below the hillsides to remain alert today for possible flooding from swollen creeks and streams.

“The storm is bringing in its cold air and is mixing with the warm air near the ocean and the chance for instability rises considerably,” said Bruce Rockwell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “These kinds of storms kick off thunderstorms, hail and heavy winds.”

The front, which also brought 8-foot swells, is expected to taper off by nightfall, but another may bring more showers Wednesday and Thursday.

During the peak of the storm Sunday morning, winds were up to 35 mph, Rockwell said.

The morning downpour also contributed to a number of fender-benders and non-injury accidents, including one involving Oxnard resident Maher Rizk, whose Chevrolet Suburban was partly submerged in heavy runoff from agricultural fields after he lost control of his vehicle near 5th Street and Las Posas Road.

The intersection remained closed for several hours because of temporary flooding, a California Highway Patrol official said.

Three men were rescued from a creek that runs next to the Hill Canyon Water Treatment Facility on Santa Rosa Road in Thousand Oaks. The men were driving off-road in a sport utility vehicle Saturday night when they attempted to cross the swollen creek and got stuck, authorities said. The three stayed with the vehicle because they feared it would be washed away.

They were discovered shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday and helicoptered to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks for treatment of mild hypothermia, according to county fire officials. Their names and ages were not released, but officials said they appeared to be in their 20s.

The fierce arctic storm is expected to dump up to 12 inches of snow on the mountains above 5,000 feet, and up to 6 inches below that elevation.

The cold air also brought noticeably cooler temperatures, with overnight lows in the 40s and daytime temperatures topping off in the upper 50s, 10 degrees off what is normal for this time of year.

The considerable rainfall will probably push the region near average totals for the season, Rockwell said.

“The first half of the season was so dry, but the second half was wet enough that we’ll probably be close to 80% of normal,” he said.

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Times Community News reporter Holly Wolcott contributed to this story.