More Wild Weather Hits SoCal

Robert Jablon | Associated Press

3:36 PM EDT, May 24, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- A rare winter-style storm swirling over Los Angeles could produce more rain today, but probably no more powerful downpours like those that triggered mudslides in the foothills.

A 50 percent chance of rain remains in the regional forecast, and the foothill areas are the "most favored to get the largest amounts," said Bonnie Bartling of the National Weather Service.

Up to a half-inch of rain could fall in some spots, but the showers may be widely scattered, she said. Some areas may get only sprinkles.

"It'll stay relatively cool," she said, adding that Sunday should be mostly dry.

The low-pressure system that ushered in unusually cold, wet weather on the heels of record heat is expected to start breaking up today, Bartling said.

The system will split into two fronts -- one over Northern California, and another over the Great Basin that will eventually move east, she said.

Over the past two days, the weird weather has triggered tornadoes in the Inland Empire, and more than 2 inches of rain has fallen in parts of Orange County and the San Gabriel foothills.

A torrential downpour -- more than an inch of rain is believed to have fallen in just minutes -- triggered huge debris flows in Orange County's Williams, Modjeska and Live Oak canyons. Mud filled the basements and bottom floors of a few canyon homes.