First rainfall sets some records but recovery from drought is far off
The first rainstorm of the just-started season provided some much needed moisture to California, though some areas got more than others. And it was not enough to make much of a dent in the drought.
Northern and Central California got the most rain, with Monterey setting a new record for Oct. 31 with 1.35 inches, according to the National Weather Service. In the San Francisco Bay Area more areas recorded well below an inch of rain.
The storm also blanketed mountains with new snow.
Rainfall totals in Southern California were also modest. The weather service said rainfall totals were less than a half-inch in the Los Angeles Basin. Camarillo got .71 inches, and that was enough for mudslides that damaged several homes and caused temporary evacuations. The Ventura County Fire Department said it had to rescue one resident.
The weather service reported sprinklings of snow in L.A. and Ventura County mountains above 7,000 feet. Scattered showers should continue through Saturday afternoon.
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