Heavy Rain Expected Sunday

Steady rain is expected across the Los Angeles Basin this afternoon, with as much as an inch falling spots.

An upper-level low-pressure system expected to make landfall along the Central Coast around sunrise is forecast to sweep southwest, bringing four to six hours of steady rain this afternoon, with totals expected to range from about a third of an inch to an inch, according to the National Weather Service.

In the North Hollywood area, scattered showers are expected early with heavy rain by the afternoon. There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be near 60.

Thunderstorms and hail are possible toward the evening around L.A. High temperatures will be hard-pressed to break out of the 50s in many areas.

The storm may be the area's first thorough soaking of the season. Geologists and public works officials will be monitoring a nascent slide along Paseo del Mar in San Pedro, where a roughly 900-foot section of the road is threatening to slide into the ocean near the White Point Nature Preserve.

At elevations of about 5,000 feet, 3-6 inches of snow is expected, with the snow level dropping to about 4,000 feet Sunday night, as the weather system moves east. An NWS winter weather advisory will be in effect for the mountains from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tire chains may be required to get to resorts.

Showers may fall this morning ahead of the main event, which will be heralded by winds out of the southeast at 15 mph or stronger.

Monday should be partly cloudy with highs in the 60s, but forecasters are say more rain is possible Wednesday night, with rain likely on Thanksgiving Day.

With nearly 2 inches of rain since July 1, Los Angeles is slightly ahead of the norm for this time of year–about 1.4 inches. The annual norm for downtown Los Angeles is about 15 inches.

–City News Service