More Storms Taking Aim at County

The rain that fell across an already-drenched Southland on Monday triggered small landslides and flooded low-lying intersections, and forecasters said more is on its way, off and on, throughout the week and into the weekend.

Meteorologists said the continuing wet weather, which has pushed rainfall totals well above average for this time of year, is the result of a dip south in high-altitude jet stream winds that are funneling the Pacific storm track directly into Southern California.

Weather Central Inc. said rainfall across Orange County in the 24 hours that ended at 4 p.m. Monday ranged from 2.04 inches in Laguna Beach to 0.27-inch in Newport Beach. Other totals included 1.56 in Fullerton, 1.36 in Anaheim, 0.81 in Dana Point and 1.65 in Orange.

The National Weather Service said 0.62-inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles in the 24 hours that ended at 4 p.m. Monday, raising the total for the season, which runs from July 1 through June 30, to 15.18 inches. That’s more than the season’s normal for the date of 10.69 inches, and more than proverbially soggy Seattle had during the same period, but the Weather Service could not say exactly how much more.

Forecasters said there’s a chance of more showers today and Wednesday. Thursday should be dry, but another powerful storm system is expected Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

California’s water supply, which directly affects the state’s power supply, has improved this month but not enough to guarantee full water deliveries to farms and cities through the summer, state water officials said Monday.

Most major reservoirs stand slightly above average levels for this time of year, but the Sierra snowpack--a giant frozen reservoir--stands at 75% of its average water content. Full reservoirs provide more hydraulic power to generate electricity. Between 10% and 20% of California’s power is generated hydroelectrically, depending upon reservoir levels.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tim McClung said the rain last weekend came from a large storm that moved slowly down the coast, spinning off waves of moisture that moved onshore as rain and snow. That storm had stalled off Southern California on Monday but was continuing to deliver bands of showers that were expected to continue into Wednesday.

“Then, perhaps, on Thursday, as that storm finally moves east, we’ll have a day of decent weather,” McClung said. “But extended computer models show other storms lined up to hit us.”

The meteorologist said that as spring approaches, the storms are getting warmer.

“The snow levels should be about 6,000 feet, which means more mountain roads will be clear, and it’ll be easier for skiers to get there,” he said. “But warmer air can hold more water, so that means more rain.”

Officials said a man jumped into the rain-swollen Los Angeles River in Reseda about 2:30 p.m. Monday despite warnings by firefighters to stay away from the water. They said the man swam about two blocks before the firefighters fished him out.

The man’s life was never in danger, officials said. After medical personnel determined that he wasn’t hurt, he was turned over to police for questioning. His name was not released.

On Monday, the heaviest rain fell before dawn, setting off a slide on a hillside in Torrance that shattered windows and dumped mud into the kitchen of a home in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

A section of the highway in Huntington Beach was closed when runoff flooded several intersections.

The California Highway Patrol said there were 74 traffic accidents during the morning commute in Los Angeles County, about twice the usual number.

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Times staff writers Carol Chambers and Roberto J. Manzano and correspondent Catherine Blake contributed to this story.