Rainy, cooler weather moves in
A series of spring storms is expected to quickly pass through Southern California.
Keep those umbrellas handy. A wet week is on tap for the Southland.
The first of several storm systems moved into the region Tuesday morning.
Rainfall was reported in Ventura, as well as in Van Nuys and at Los Angeles International Airport by 7 a.m. Tuesday, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
By Tuesday night, Los Angeles was forecast to get about a third of an inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Coastal areas between Malibu and Cambria were expected to see half an inch to an inch of precipitation Tuesday.
The storm system was expected to usher in high winds, and the Antelope Valley was under a wind advisory until 8 p.m. Tuesday, with forecast winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of up to 45 mph with even stronger wind possible in the mountains, Seto said.
Wednesday holds the best chance for scattered thunderstorms, with a 20% chance throughout the area, Seto said.
Snow levels could drop to 5,000 feet, especially along the Tejon Pass on Interstate 5, forecasters said.
Thursday is forecast to be dry before another storm system originating in the Gulf of Alaska moves in, according to the weather service. A cold front is expected to move south over the area Friday afternoon. Although areas north of Point Conception in Santa Barbara County will get more rain, precipitation also is forecast for areas farther south, forecasters said.
That system could bring gusty northerly winds across southern Santa Barbara County and along the Interstate 5 corridor.
That front likely will exit the region over the weekend before yet another storm system quickly passes through between Sunday and Monday, bringing gusty winds and possible light rainfall, according to the weather service.
Seto said it is common in the spring for storm systems to move in from the north and pass rapidly through Southern California.