More Rain Expected in Region

Rain fell across Southern California on Wednesday, and forecasters said a shift in weather patterns means there could be more rain, off and on, for a week or more.

The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for hillsides denuded in last fall’s brush fires, but Wednesday’s rainfall generally was light to moderate, and there were no reports of flooding or mudslides.

Up to 4 inches of snow had fallen above 5,000 feet at resort areas in the Tehachapi, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains by nightfall Wednesday.

Blustery winds raked the mountains of Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, with gusts up to 50 mph, and heavy surf pounded beaches in Ventura County. A small craft advisory for heavy seas was issued along the Southern California coast.

The rain began falling throughout the Southland on Wednesday morning as the first in a series of storm systems moved inland from the Pacific. Thunder rumbled and a little hail fell in Altadena, but not enough to whiten the ground.

“The storm door is open,” the Weather Service exulted in an afternoon bulletin as a break finally occurred in what had been unusually dry weather for January and February, normally the region’s wettest months.

“The high pressure ridge along the Pacific coast that’s been there almost the entire winter has broken down,” said Todd McClung, a Weather Service meteorologist. “That’s letting the Pacific storm systems into Southern California. There are chances of rain all the way through next week. After that, it’s hard to tell, but we’re optimistic.”

Just 0.18 of an inch of rain had fallen in downtown Los Angeles by nightfall Wednesday, raising the total for the season, which began July 1, to 4.07 inches. That’s less than half the normal total for the date of 9.37 inches.

Other daily readings by 4 p.m. Wednesday included 0.55 of an inch in Ojai, 0.47 in Anaheim, 0.45 in Malibu, 0.38 at the Pomona Fairplex, 0.31 in Burbank, 0.30 in Laguna Beach, 0.27 in Monrovia, 0.14 in San Bernardino and 0.13 in Ontario.

Forecasters said there should be a brief dry spell today, with sunny skies this morning, but the clouds should return by tonight, with a chance of rain Friday and Saturday. Rain is likely Sunday and again Tuesday, with the possibility of more rain toward the end of next week.

Temperatures will be cool but not cold, with the snow level hovering at about 6,000 feet. Breezy conditions are expected throughout the period.