The atmospheric river storm that dumped record rainfall in Northern California will bring much less rain to Southern California.
On Saturday, Los Angeles and Ventura counties could see anywhere from a tenth to a third of an inch of rain. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties could see an inch in some areas.
A second round of rain expected to begin Sunday may be “less intense than the first but still possible in the 'beneficial rain' category,” the National Weather Service said in its latest forecast for LA. Wet conditions could last through Wednesday.
There is little chance of flooding or other significant problems in Southern California, forecasters said, although roads may become slick.
Concerns about the coming rainy season have been growing among residents who live near and around the Portuguese Bend landslide area in Rancho Palos Verdes, because increased rainfall leads to more groundwater – which is the impetus for ongoing destructive earth movements.
But city officials hope that “comprehensive winterization efforts,” including improving drainage, filling cracks and canyon walls, can help mitigate the impact of any new rain. Most of those projects have been completed, but others are still ongoing. The project aims to “better prepare for the coming rainy season,” said David Copp, the city's deputy director of public works.
Parts of the landslide have seen a recent decline, and, in some areas, even complete stabilization, the city reported, but more rain remains a concern in this unstable region.
In Northern California, the storm brought several feet of snow to the Sierra along with flooding and the threat of mudslides.
