Heavy Rains, Wind Pound Southern California

A strong winter storm from the Pacific Northwest moved over Southern California ahead of schedule, dumping more rain in a single storm than the region has seen since April 2006, according to Stuart Seto, chief weather specialist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard, Calif.

Coastal and mountain areas have been under a weather service flash flood watch, as the forecast calls for winds up to 60 mph and rainfall up to 3 in. in some places.

Southern Californians fear the possibility of flash foods, as the area's recent wildfires have stripped it of vegetation, promoting excessive runoff and erosion. "It doesn't take much to set off those mud and debris flows," Seto said. In Los Angeles County, work crews have attempted to secure about 1,200 acres of hillsides scorched in May with sandbags.

In Washington state, where the Pacific Northwest storm system initially hit, officials have meanwhile reopened a section of I-5 that had been undrivable for a few days due to high waters.

Source: Associated Press