LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Showers will douse the Southland for a second straight day today, likely causing another messy commute.
A thunderstorm may develop over the Southland this afternoon, said National Weather Service Curt Kaplan.
Forecasters said they still believe there will not be mud slides or debris flows in area denuded by wildfires but conceded they are marginally less confident of it then Wednesday.
With scattered showers having fallen in several areas overnight, this morning's commute was likely to be challenging, as was the case Wednesday, when, according to the California Highway Patrol, there were 119 accidents reported on Los Angeles County freeways between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., compared to 93 under dry conditions a week earlier. Forecasters said motorists must be particularly vigilant on canyon roads.
Today's forecast remained for between a half inch and an inch-and-a- half of rain.
In mountain areas, the slow-moving low-pressure system will bring snow to higher elevations of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties through late this evening, according to the NWS.
Forecasters aid six inches of snow would fall above 6,500 feet, 10 inches above 7,500 feet and one to two inches between 5,500 and 6,500 feet. At the same time, the mountains will be swept by winds of 15-25 miles per hour, with 40-mph gusts.
A winter weather advisory will be in force in the San Gabriels until midnight.
Forecasters urged motorists to brace for slippery road conditions but said snow would not be an issue along the Interstate 5 corridor through the Tejon Pass and the Grapevine.
The NWS forecast showers in L.A. County today and highs of 47 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 48 on Mount Wilson; 52 in Saugus; 56 in Yorba Linda; 59 in Burbank; 60 in San Gabriel, Pasadena and Woodland Hills; 61 in downtown L.A. and at LAX; 62 in Long Beach and Avalon. Temperatures will be up to eight degrees warmer Friday.
Showers were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 43 on Santiago Peak; 50 in Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 56 in Yorba Linda; 59 in Anaheim and Mission Viejo; 60 in Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Fullerton and Irvine; and 61 in Newport Beach. Friday's temperatures will be up to nine degrees higher.
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