Rain Expected Through Christmas Weekend

On-and-off rain is likely through the Christmas weekend, forecasters concluded Tuesday, as they watched a cold front move in over California to bring a new round of showers to the Southland.

Los Angeles city and county activated their Emergency Cold Weather programs to shelter the homeless for three nights.

Although the current system is expected to clear out by this afternoon, leaving the region with gusty winds over the hills and through the canyons, another front will probably arrive late Thursday.

“There’s a whole series of storms out in the Pacific,� said Rick Dittmann of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

The National Weather Service said the weekend should be “mostly cloudy with occasional showers through the period.�

With winter officially beginning at 7:28 a.m. PST today and with the new storm bringing low temperatures, both the city and county activated emergency shelters Tuesday and said they will be open through Thursday night.

The program goes into operation when the temperature is expected to drop to 40 degrees or less or when the temperature slides to 50 degrees and there is at least a 50% chance of rain.

Under the city program, the homeless are given vouchers for hotel rooms or are sheltered in the Elysian Park and Downey Recreation Centers and in the Van Nuys National Guard Armory. The county opened the National Guard armories in Culver City and Long Beach. In addition, 14 agencies countywide are giving food, shelter and transportation vouchers to the homeless.

Heavy rains in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties caused localized flooding Tuesday evening as the frontal system headed toward Los Angeles.

Oceano, in southern San Luis Obispo County, picked up 1.48 inches of rain between 6 and 8 p.m., the NWS said. The rain was responsible for flooding a portion of California 1 in Oceano and motorists were advised to use extreme caution there and on other area roadways. The county sheriff’s office reported two homes flooded near Arroyo Grande.

Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County recorded .80 of an inch between 8 and 9 p.m.

Dittmann said coastal areas near Los Angeles are apt to get about half an inch of rain by this morning, while local mountains could get 1 to 2 inches.

The National Weather Service issued snow advisories for Southern California’s northern mountains, where 6 to 8 inches were expected down to the 5,000-foot level.

High Los Angeles readings will be in the 50s, and lows will be in the mid-40s.

Tuesday’s Civic Center maximum was 57 degrees after an overnight low of 49.

Relative humidity ranged from 83% to 69%. The morning drizzle that dampened many areas was not measureable, the Weather Service said.