More rain coming to L.A. this week, with a new storm set to hit Thursday

Another storm is set to hit Southern California on Thursday — the latest in a parade of storms that have kept skies cloudy and streets soaked for most of the week.

The impacts are expected to be minor, but there will be enough rain to potentially force the cancellation of outdoor events. There is also still the possibility of thunderstorms and severe weather Thursday night into Friday morning in Los Angeles County, along with a risk of small tornadoes and strong wind gusts.

The storm will be powered by a “cutoff low,” which is unpredictable because it’s cut off from the jet stream — making it spin like a top and twirl where it likes. This means it could move slower than a typical autumn storm, heightening the risk of severe weather and greater amounts of rain.

Should that not materialize, however, forecasters expect half an inch to an inch of rain on the coast and in the valleys, with 1 to 2 inches in the foothills and mountains.

The upcoming storm, for now, is not expected to be “nearly as wet as the storm we had this weekend,” the weather service said.

There’s a 10% to 20% chance of rain Thursday morning in Los Angeles County, increasing to a 60% to 70% chance by the afternoon and 80% to 100% by the evening.

There will still be a 60% to 70% chance of rain in L.A. County on Friday morning, with chances decreasing to 30% to 50% later that day.

Rain is expected to fall at a rate of one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch per hour. But some spots might get rates of one-quarter of an inch to half an inch per hour. There is the potential of enhanced rockslides and mudslides.

In Orange County, San Diego County and the Inland Empire, showers are expected to begin as early as Thursday morning and become widespread and heavier Thursday night and Friday morning.

Thunderstorms will be a possibility during this time, the weather service office in San Diego said.

Drier, warmer weather is expected starting this weekend and over the Thanksgiving holiday week.

All of these storms have fueled a wetter-than-normal fall, dramatically reducing the risk of wildfires, and likely bringing an early end to the annual fire season.

Since the start of the water year on Oct. 1, 4.89 inches of rain have fallen in downtown L.A. — five times more than the average for this time of year, and one-third of the average annual rainfall. Last year at this time, only 0.07 inches had fallen since the start of the water year.

Forecasters have said that it takes 3 to 4 inches of rain in the lower elevations to effectively end high fire season in Southern California.

In November alone, 3.48 inches have fallen on downtown L.A. — nearly 10 times the average for this point in the month.

This latest storm is not expected to bring snow to the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway, which reaches a height of 4,144 feet at the Tejon Pass. Snow will only fall at elevations of 6,000 feet above sea level or higher. Accumulation of several inches is possible at higher elevations.

The recent storms, thus far, have caused some mayhem but no severe or life-threatening damage in recently burned areas.

By late Monday night, landslides and flooding were reported on a number of roads. The 5 Freeway near Highway 14, between Sylmar and Santa Clarita, suffered flooding Monday afternoon, as did an offramp on the 91 Freeway at Carmenita Road. The California Highway Patrol said there was flooding at onramps to the 10 Freeway in El Monte and the 605 Freeway on the southern border of Baldwin Park.

Mountain roads were hard hit. One motorist on Angeles Crest Highway, a road that winds through the San Gabriel Mountains, became “stuck in mud, dirt and rock” in a northbound lane, while the southbound lane was blocked with multiple landslides, according to reports filed to the National Weather Service. Snowplows couldn’t haul away the debris because it was too heavy.

Near the 101 Freeway in Hidden Hills, a number of vehicles hydroplaned as Round Meadow Road flooded near Mureau Road.

Monday afternoon and evening also brought rockslides and mudslides to San Francisquito Canyon Road, the mountainous route that connects Santa Clarita to the Antelope Valley; a section of Kanan Dume Road, which leads into the Santa Monica Mountains from Malibu; and on Mulholland Highway south of Calabasas.