More Storms To Douse The Southland Through 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA — Lingering stormy weather was expected to keep rain and snow falling intermittently throughout the Southland for the remainder of the year, weather officials said.

The next storm was expected to roll in Wednesday and Thursday but it remains to be seen how much rain will fall as weather officials monitor the system approaching the region.

The wet pattern was forecast to break on Friday and Southlanders can expect sunny skies on New Years Day. Temperatures were in store for much of the area through the end of the week.

A winter storm warning was issued from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday for the Los Angeles County mountains — excluding the Santa Monica Range — where snow levels were expected to get as low as 3,5000 feet and 6 to 12 inches of snow were expected above 5,000 feet.

In San Diego County, the extended forecast includes intermittent rain for the rest of the year, the National Weather Service said.

"We are expecting scattered showers through midnight (Saturday) continuing through the western part of the county," said meteorologist Casey Oswant. "Around midnight, we are expecting more widespread showers overnight lasting into early Sunday morning, likely finishing by 9 or 10 a.m. It will be dry for most of the rest of the day on Sunday."

Further south, in Riverside County, the storm was expected to bring strong gusty winds and another round of rain Monday through early Tuesday with the most significant precipitation Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms pummeled California through Christmas weekend, causing whiteout conditions and closing key thoroughfares all over the state.

Southern California was hit with heavy rain and wind that flooded streets and knocked down power lines late Saturday.

Powerful gusts toppled trees, damaged carports and blew a track-and-field shed from a Goleta high school into a front yard two blocks away, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

More than 1.8 inches of rain fell over 24 hours in Santa Barbara County's San Marcos pass, while Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo County recorded 1.61 inches, the weather service said.

Los Angeles International Airport said a "storm-related electrical issue" forced a partial closure of Terminal 5, causing post-Christmas passengers to divert to other terminals for certain services.

"Cancellations and delays are possible, so it will be important to check your flight status today if flying through Terminal 5," LAX officials tweeted.

In the San Bernardino Mountains, crews were working to repair a section of State Route 18 that washed down a hillside after heavy rain late Thursday. The closure of the major entryway into the Big Bear ski resort area could last for weeks, officials said.

While storms caused travel delays and safety hazards for Californians, precipitation was welcomed in the drought-stricken state. On Christmas Eve, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was between 114 percent and 137 percent of normal across the range with more snow expected, the state Department of Water Resources reported.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.