Storm Says, ‘Summer’s Over’

The first measurable rain since October brought needed moisture to Southern California’s parched chaparral and forest lands Monday, and meteorologists said a bigger storm is expected later in the week.

The forecasters said the approaching storm, due Wednesday night, is expected to last through Friday, bringing gale-force winds and heavy surf that could flood low-lying coastal areas, especially in Orange and San Diego counties.

“It looks like a strong, well-organized storm system that could bring some pretty heavy precipitation,” said Eric Edge, a meteorologist with Weather Central, which provides forecasts for The Times. “There could even be a thunderstorm or two.”

Monday’s showers brought the problem for motorists that occurs with rain after a protracted dry period. Rainwater created a slippery film atop a patina of oil that had been building up on asphalt since the last significant rain, more than two months ago.

Caltrans said lanes were closed at midday on the Long Beach, Harbor, Santa Monica and Golden State freeways as drivers skidded and started banging into one another.

In Orange County, the California Highway Patrol reported four significant freeway accidents in addition to numerous fender-benders, some rain-related.

In the first major incident, reported at 11:53 a.m., as many as four cars collided on the northbound San Joaquin Hills toll road in Newport Beach, blocking the fast lane just south of Birch Street for about half an hour.

At 12:57 p.m., a big rig struck the center divider of the northbound Santa Ana Freeway south of Red Hill Avenue in Tustin. Only minor injuries were reported, and all lanes were reopened at 2:19 p.m., said CHP officer Mark Reeves.

A 1 p.m. accident on the southbound San Diego Freeway near Bristol Street in Costa Mesa involved a dump truck and several other vehicles that blocked two lanes for about an hour.

And at 5:55 p.m., Reeves said, a trash truck overturned on the southbound Santa Ana Freeway in San Clemente, causing a minor injury and blocking the Avenida Pico offramp until after 9 p.m.

Flooding closed Coast Highway at 1 p.m. at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve between Goldenwest Street and Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach, said Cal Trans spokeswoman Sandy Friedman. Northbound lanes were reopened at 4:02 p.m. and southbound lanes at 4:30 p.m., she said. Health officials ordered Seal Beach, Huntington Harbour, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Dana Point Harbor and Newport Bay closed to swimmers and surfers Monday afternoon after ocean waters there tested above the allowable limits for bacteria, said Monica Mazur, environmental health specialist for the Orange County Public Health Department.

The agency issued a 72-hour advisory for the entire coastal area to let beachgoers know that ocean water might be polluted by storm runoff.

By 5:30 p.m. Monday, 0.52-inch of rain had been recorded at John Wayne Airport. In the official downtown Los Angeles gauge at USC, 0.27-inch had collected, raising the total for the season--which runs from July 1 through June 30--to 1.47 inches. That’s about one-fourth of the normal total for the date of 5.56 inches.

Other daily measurements by 5:30 p.m. Monday included: 0.69-inch at Santa Barbara Airport, 0.26 at Long Beach Airport, 0.24 at Los Angeles International Airport, 0.18 in Burbank, 0.16 at Sepulveda Dam and 0.12 in San Dimas.

Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Brian Jordan said Monday’s light rain was enough to cancel a Red Flag fire danger warning in the county’s brushland and forests, but the U.S. Forest Service said it will take heavier precipitation--like that forecast for later in the week--to lift restrictions against open fires in the Southland’s national forests.

A little snow fell Monday in the Tehachapi, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains above 6,000 feet, but officials said there wasn’t enough to permit operations to resume at many of the Southland ski resorts that lack major snow-making equipment.

Forecasters said the fast-moving low-pressure trough that brought Monday’s rain should clear out to the east by this morning, with partly cloudy skies today and Wednesday before clouds and rain return Wednesday night.

Rain, heavy at times, is expected Thursday and most of Friday, with snow above 5,000 feet. Skies should be partly cloudy Saturday, with a chance of more rain Sunday.

Temperatures throughout the period should be about normal for this time of year, with highs in the 60s following overnight lows in the 40s and 50s.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Lagging Rainfall

Santa Ana rainfall comparisons in inches:

24-hour total: .38

Season total: 1.52

Last season: .27

Season norm: 4.68

Note: 24 hours ending at 4 p.m.; season is July 1 to date