Rain, Snow in Forecast for Weekend

Ventura County braced for a cold and wet weekend, with a string of cold Pacific storms expected to bring substantial rainfall and snow that should last, off and on, through Wednesday.

The series of chilly fronts originating in the Gulf of Alaska prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm warning for the county’s mountain areas, where more than a foot of snow was expected in elevations above 4,000 feet.

From 4 to 8 inches of snow are forecast for elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 feet.

“The snow will be heavy at times, and that will create problems for [California] 33 and [Interstate] 5,” said Brent Bower, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “People should be prepared for winter driving.”

Along the coast, forecasters predicted up to half an inch of rain this morning, tapering off to scattered showers in the afternoon.

Forecasters said another front will probably bring similar amounts of rain Sunday. Thunderstorms and hail are also possible, Bower said.

The storm is also expected to bring winds of up to 40 mph across the county.

The weather is expected to put a crimp in the weekend plans for many. Alice Meyer, a board member of the Ojai branch of the American Heart Assn., said she has been trying to ignore the forecasters.

The group is hosting its annual 5K and 10K benefit runs today.

“The runners don’t seem to get cold, but all the rest of us are going to freeze, I’m sure,” Meyer said. “It was so gorgeous last weekend.”

Coastal temperatures are expected to dip into the low 40s overnight, but the mountain areas may stay on the frosty side, with overnight temperatures in the low to mid-20s and daytime highs in the low 30s.

County farmers welcomed the news of the advancing wet weather. Rain and cloud cover would most likely protect tender crops from the frosty weather that threatened them earlier in the week.

“I don’t now who wouldn’t be happy,” said Rex Laird, executive director for the Ventura County Farm Bureau.

Weary farmers worked overtime Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to shield orchards from icy temperatures, baby-sitting their crops with warmth-generating fans when temperatures slid overnight.

Laird said farmers have been getting little sleep, pulling themselves out of bed in the middle of the night after alarms blared warnings as temperatures fell.

“And then they would go back to bed and try to fall asleep, which is pretty hard when you’re worrying that the alarm is going to go off again,” Laird said.

After the anticipated storms depart at midweek, Laird said, crops would be in better condition to withstand damage if temperatures dip near freezing again.

“And all you need is one or two degrees above critical to protect fruit and leaves,” he said.

The expected rainfall should also be good news for cattle farmers whose grazing fields need a good soaking.

“People have been hoping for rain,” said Earl McPhail, the county’s agricultural commissioner. “It’s been dry for so long.”