Powerful Storm Soaks the Southland

A sluggish but powerful spring storm stalled over Southern California on Monday, bringing heavy rain that snarled traffic during the morning and evening rush hours.

Cloudy to partly cloudy skies are expected today and Wednesday before another weather system brings the chance of more rain late Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The National Weather Service forecast calls for some clouds, but no rain, for Easter Sunday.

Slippery pavement tripled the usual number of fender-benders Monday morning, but no major injuries were reported. One of the worst accidents involved a big-rig that overturned on the Golden State Freeway in the San Fernando Valley, tying up lanes in both directions for several hours.

Pooled water caused by a plugged drain collapsed a part of a roof at an industrial complex in Santa Ana. There were no injuries, but about 30 employees were evacuated.

The storm was relatively warm, and snow didn’t begin falling at resort levels in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains until Monday night.

That didn’t matter much to ski resort operators, most of whom already have closed for the year. And for people like Joe Terrell, a clerk at the San Bernardino County sheriff’s station at Big Bear Lake, the less snow, the better.

“It’s been raining up here, and for me that’s just fine,” he said Monday afternoon. “I’m ready for spring.”

More than an inch of rain fell Monday in several communities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Totals at nightfall included 1.52 inches in Northridge, 1.37 in Glendale, 1.45 in Simi Valley and 1.27 in Altadena.

Only .58 of an inch was reported in downtown Los Angeles, but it raised the total for the season to 15.28 inches. That’s more than the normal total for the date of 14.53 inches and more than the normal total for the entire season, which runs from July 1 through June 30, of slightly under 15 inches.

Los Angeles County took the brunt of the storm Monday. Daily rainfall figures were generally lower in Ventura and Orange counties, including .53 of an inch at Fullerton Airport, .37 at Oxnard, .22 in Ventura and .08 at John Wayne Airport.