First storm of the season to bring rain this weekend across SoCal
LOS ANGELES - It will be a partly cloudy and cool weekend across most parts of Southern California as the first major rain system hits the area.
A storm system approaching from the northwest is expected to bring moderate rain starting late Sunday night and stretching into Monday.
The forecast also calls for the possibility of minor flooding and gusty winds.
Forecasters expect .5 to 1.75 inches of rain to hit in Los Angeles County Monday. Upslope areas of southern Santa Barbara and Ventura counties could see 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain, while other areas could get as little as a half-inch to an inch, forecasters said.
Santa Barbara officials issued evacuation orders Sunday for parts of the county within the Alisal Fire burn area.
A wind advisory was issued for the Los Angeles County mountains --excluding the Santa Monica range -- from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, and for the Antelope Valley from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gusts were expected to reach 50 mph in both areas.
Recent burn areas could experience minor mud and debris flows, but rainfall rates are not expected to create concerns for older burn areas such as the Bobcat or Ranch 2 fires, according to the National Weather Service.
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Thunderstorms are not expected during the storm, which is expected to move to the east by late Monday night.
The main front of the storm system -- and the heaviest rain -- will likely hit the Los Angeles area around noon Monday and move out of the area fairly quickly in the afternoon, according to the weather service.
In the L.A. area, the forecast calls for a 40% chance of rain after midnight Sunday, increasing to a 70% chance by Monday afternoon, diminishing to 30% Monday night and becoming partly cloudy after midnight.
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High temperatures are expected to be in the 60s and 70s Saturday and Sunday, falling into 50 and 60s during the rain.
Dry and warmer conditions are expected the rest of next week.
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