Rain Expected Today, Thunderstorms Tomorrow

Rain may return to the Southland today in the form of scattered showers and possibly thunderstorms, but Wednesday is expected to produce hours of steady rainfall, National Weather Service meteorologists said.

The storm system that could generate showers today is expected to bring the region less than a quarter-inch of rain, according to the NWS.

"However, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms that could bring locally higher rainfall amounts,'' according to an NWS advisory.

Wednesday's weather picture is clearer because the next storm system is stronger and, as a result of the one that will have preceded it, will have "a good source of moisture" to tap into, according to an NWS advisory. The system has the potential "for widespread rainfall" throughout the day
Wednesday, it said.

"The fast-moving cold front is expected to bring a 4-to-6-hour period of steady rainfall, with brief, heavy rain possible," it said, adding it may
also generate showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.

In the Agoura Hills area, according to WeatherBug, today is expected to be mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the morning, becoming partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs wil be near 70 with the chance of precipitation 30 percent.

On Wednesday, the rain may be heavy at times in the afternoon in Agoura Hills, with highs in the mid to upper 60s and south winds around 15 mph in the afternoon. There will be a chance of showers in the evening, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.

In all, Wednesday's storm could produce between a half-inch and an inch of rain, with two inches possible on south-and southwest-facing mountain slopes, according to the advisory.

"There could even be some early-season snowfall across the higher mountain elevations Wednesday night into Thursday," it said.

The storm expected Wednesday also will generate strong, gusty south-to- southwest winds in the mountains and deserts, according to the NWS.

It said that along with rain and wind, this week will bring cooler temperatures, with some areas likely to see temperatures fall 15 to 30 degrees below normal.

The NWS forecast highs today of 58 on Mount Wilson; 67 in Avalon, San Gabriel and at LAX; 68 in Newport Beach and Burbank; 69 in Pasadena and Newhall;70 in downtown L.A.; 71 in Anaheim, Long Beach and Palmdale; and 72 in Lancaster. Wednesday's temperatures will be a few degrees lower.