Rain Last Night, Rain Forecast Tonight

A cold storm out of the Gulf of Alaska brought the Southland rain, snow, high winds and strong rip currents today.

In addition to this morning's relatively light precipitation, there is a possibility of brief heavy downpours of rain, which could trigger minor mud and debris flows down slopes recently denuded by wildfire, warned the National Weather Service.

But the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said run-off should be negligible in burn areas.

A wind advisory will be in effect from noon to 9 p.m. today along the coast, in beachside cities, the Westside, metropolitan L.A., the downtown area and the Hollywood Hills.

Increasing swells will add to the high risk of rip currents, forecasters said.

The late-season storm, which reached the Southland late Monday, initially brought the snow level down to between 5,000 and 5,500 feet, but more cold air could lower the range even more this morning -- to around 4,000 feet along north-facing slopes.

After a lull, the precipitation threat will increase tonight into Wednesday, and snow levels will return to the 4,000-foot level, according to the NWS.

The NWS forecast highs of 45 on Mount Wilson; 54 in Lancaster; 56 in Palmdale; 60 in Saugus; 62 in Avalon and Burbank; 63 in Long Beach, Pasadena, San Gabriel and Newport Beach; 64 in Long Beach, Anaheim and downtown L.A.; and 65 in Woodland Hills.

--City News Service