More rain expected this week

LOS ANGELES — A fast-moving storm approaching from the northwest will move through Southern California late Tuesday night and early Wednesday. The storm should tap into deep moisture, resulting in a period of moderate to heavy rain, according to a bulletin issued Monday by the National Weather Service.

The snow level will be near 6,000 feet to 6,500 feet, and then lower rapidly behind the cold front to about 4,000 feet. However, most of the significant rain will be over by the time the snow level lowers to 4,000 feet. Most areas will be about 6 to 12 degrees below seasonal averages Wednesday.

Rainfall totals should range from about a third- to two-thirds of an inch in the coastal and valley areas, with three quarters of an inch to an inch and a quarter on the coastal mountain slopes. The high deserts should get up to half an inch will less than a quarter of an inch.

San Bernardino County mountain resort levels and the higher Riverside County mountains should get about 3 to 8 inches of snow. However, there could locally be near a foot of snow on the highest peaks.

Strong gusty onshore winds will accompany this system becoming even stronger behind the front Wednesday night. The strongest winds will be in the mountains and high deserts.

A state of emergency was declared in 11 counties, including Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Barbara.

There have been two deaths in the region resulting from cars plunging into waterways and several other storm-related traffic fatalities.