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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Just when it seemed like the rain would never end, the last in a series of storm systems slowly made its way out of the region Monday, although a slight chance of showers will continue to linger before the area enjoys a generally dry week.
The greatest chance of rain Monday will be primarily on California's Central Coast, while Los Angeles County will primarily be dealing with cool temperatures and gusty winds -- particularly in the Antelope Valley.
Temperatures Monday "will continue to be 5-10 degrees below normal for this time of year," according to the National Weather Service. "The warmest coast and valleys should only reach into the upper 50s and low 60s.
Tuesday and Wednesday should be mostly free of rain, although there will be a slight chance of some precipitation in the Los Angeles County mountains Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The bulk of that storm system is likely to remain north of the Los Angeles area, forecasters said.
While the storm moved out, cleanup efforts were continuing from the barrage of rain that has battered the Southland over the past week.
Torrential rains on Saturday caused flooded streets and emergencies ranging from the rescue of a woman hanging onto a tree in a Laguna Hills creek to multiple cars being crushed by a fallen tree in a Woodland Hills parking lot.
Downtown Los Angeles received 1.82 inches of rain Saturday, breaking the old record of 1.56 inches set in 1978. At LAX, a record 1.53 inches fell Saturday, breaking the old record of 1.51 inches, also from 1978. And 1.72 inches fell at Long Beach Airport, surpassing the 1.48 inches from 1978, according to the National Weather Service.
The rain began falling over Los Angeles County late Saturday morning, with the brunt of the system hitting in the late afternoon or evening.
In Orange County, there were 4.13 inches of rain reported over the past two days at lower Oso Creek as of 4 a.m. Monday. There were 3.89 inches reported at Coto de Caza, 3.27 inches reported at Lower Silverado Canyon and 6.15 inches reported at Horsethief Rice Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains.
The precipitation largely tapered off Saturday night, and the rain subsided until late afternoon Sunday, when another less-powerful storm moved in.
Flooding was reported in the Long Beach Peninsula community at about 2 p.m. Saturday, affecting residences along 67th Place. A little farther to the northwest, all lanes of the Long Beach (710) Freeway were flooded between Anaheim and Willow streets.
A winter weather advisory will remain in effect until 3 a.m. Tuesday for the Los Angeles County mountains.
"Travel could be very difficult," according to the NWS. "Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. There is a 10 to 20% chance of light snow accumulations on the Grapevine over Interstate 5 Monday night."
As of Monday morning, Caltrans was reporting the following closures:
-- Two right lanes were blocked on the northbound Golden State (5) Freeway near Templin Highway in northern Los Angeles County by a 250-foot-long mudslide.
-- The southbound 5 Freeway connector to the southbound Harbor (110) Freeway was closed due to mud and debris. Mud is also blocking the right lane of the southbound 5 from Stadium Way to the 110 Freeway.
-- All lanes of state Route 2 in the Angeles National Forest were closed in both directions from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb's Ranch to SR 39.
-- The right shoulder on southbound Pacific Coast Highway in the Malibu area is blocked due to concerns about slope failure.
On Saturday afternoon, Orange County Fire Authority workers saved a woman who was clinging to a tree above rising water at Aliso Creek near the 24400 block of Christina Court in Laguna Niguel. A helicopter crew lowered a rescuer to the woman, picked her up and took her to safety, where she was reunited with family, OCFA Capt. Thanh Nguyen told City News Service.
A high surf advisory was in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday at Orange County beaches, where huge waves have been seen in the last few days.
In the Hollywood Hills, a tree collapsed, damaging a home, rupturing a gas line and downing power lines at 10:15 p.m. Sunday. The home at 3084 N. Belden Drive sustained minor damage but no one was hurt.
In Woodland Hills, a tree toppled at 8:13 p.m. Saturday in the 23300 block of Mulholland Drive, crushing multiple cars in a parking lot.
The rain also created dangerous conditions for hikers. The Montrose Search and Rescue Team -- a nonprofit, volunteer rescue group affiliated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department -- reported Sunday that "there have been numerous slip and fall incidents in the Angeles National Forest the last few weeks. Some have resulted in fatalities."
Work was still continuing to repair a massive sinkhole that developed on a Calabasas roadway and swallowed two vehicles. The sinkhole on Iverson Road was estimated Friday to have grown to about 45 feet deep while spanning the entire roadway. The Los Angeles City Council last week approved $500,000 in emergency funding to expedite repairs of the sinkhole.
Another $450,000 was approved for storm repairs to Mulholland Drive between Summit Circle and Bowmont Drive, which remained closed to all non- residents on Sunday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Friday declared a local state of emergency due to the recent storms and impending additional rain. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have also declared a state of emergency over the storms to speed the process of disaster relief.