Dec 14, 2008 7:59 am US/Pacific
Temps Drop, Winds Pick Up As Wet Storm Nears SoCal
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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The Southland, which has had far less than its typical 15 inches of precipitation for the past two years, could use the rain. Only about 1.8 inches has fallen since July 1. (File)
A cold storm set to arrive Sunday night is expected to bring up to 1 1/2 inches of rain to Los Angeles and several inches of snow to the mountains.
Though Sunday's forecast should start out clear and sunny, dark clouds and strong winds are expected by sundown, and rain is predicted later in the evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs across the metro area are forecast to top out in the 50s Sunday and for the week to come.
Traces of rain -- and a dusting of snow in the mountains -- fell across the region Saturday as cold air associated with the storm front pushed into the area. Overnight lows in parts of the San Fernando Valley were expected to dip into the 30s.
The Southland, which has had far less than its typical 15 inches of precipitation for the past two years, could use the rain. Only about 1.8 inches has fallen since July 1.
Precipitation totals through Monday are expected to range from about three-quarters of an inch to 1 1/2 inches in the coastal and valley area and up o twice that much in the foothills and mountains.
That prompted the NWS to issue a flood watch for burn areas, where wildfire-denuded hillsides could be in danger of sliding.
The wet weather, accompanied by gusty winds out of the southwest and west, is expected to last through Tuesday afternoon.
Temperatures will remain about 15 degrees below normal through the period.
Winds in the coastal area, initially out of the northwest at 15-20 mph Sunday, will back to the west and eventually the south and southwest as the front approaches Sunday evening, according to the NWS.
High winds, with gusts up to 70 mph possible, could affect driving along the Grapevine section of Interstate 5 and in parts of the high desert.
The storm coincides with astronomical high tides that could cause some coastal flooding in low-lying areas such as Seal Beach. A coastal flooding advisory remains in place through 11 a.m. Monday.
The storm is also expected to pump up the surf, prompting the NWS to issue a high surf advisory through 4 p.m. Sunday.
In the mountains at elevations of 7,000 feet or more, snow is expected as temperatures start to drop Sunday evening. Three or four inches of snow is possible in the higher elevations.
By Monday morning, the snow level could drop as low as 3,500 feet.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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