More Rain Expected; Another Record May Topple

Wet weather was forecast for Southern California this weekend, with enough rain to make this the second-wettest season on record in downtown Los Angeles and pose a renewed threat of mudslides in the foothills.

The National Weather Service said a subtropical Pacific storm should move onshore this afternoon, dropping about an inch of rain on the city and up to three times that much in the hills and mountains before showers taper off late Saturday or early Sunday.

Another storm could bring more rain Monday night and Tuesday.

As of Thursday night, 34.51 inches of rain had fallen on downtown Los Angeles since July 1, making this the third-rainiest season on record. The second-rainiest season was 1889-90, when 34.84 inches fell. The rainiest was 1883-84, with 38.18 inches.

Meteorologists say there’s a good chance that this season, which ends June 30, could end up as the wettest ever.

Forecasters said that although rainfall should generally be light this weekend, there could be a few brief but heavy downpours along the already saturated foothills.

Local flooding of roadways and small streams will be possible, the weather service said. Mudslides and rockslides will be possible, especially below recently burned areas and near steep terrain.

Because the storm is warm, snow levels will be quite high, with little accumulation below 7,500 feet.