Extreme rains in California easing off today

[Jeb]

L. A. rains easing

2:14 P.M. ET 12/29/2004

 

B. Bernard, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

After record-setting rainfall in Los Angeles yesterday, the rain today is easing, becoming lighter and more scattered. Over five inches of rain cascaded down yesterday near the Civic Center, making it the wettest December day on record and the third wettest of any month. In the mountains of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, over a foot of rain fell in some locations during the past 48 hours. Today, however, the rain has tapered off to scattered showers as the large upper-air storm that has dogged California over the past several days is moving inland. Meanwhile, flood watches remain posted eastward into Arizona and northward into southwest Utah. Locally heavy downpours are expected in the Phoenix area today. Farther north, just under three inches of rain have pounded down on Flagstaff over the past 30 hours, and additional heavy showers are likely.

 

In the higher elevations of the West, winter storm warnings and watches remain widespread. The ranges likely to see the heaviest snow today, perhaps one to two feet, include the mountains of Utah and the San Juans in southern Colorado. Heavy snow is expected to return to the Sierras tonight and tomorrow. See National Forecast for additional details.