2nd Big Storm Leaves Snarled Traffic, Slides

Southern California’s second storm in as many days pounded in from the Pacific on Friday, triggering traffic tie-ups in Orange County, mud slides in Los Angeles County and street floodings throughout the two-county area.

But there was good news, too: The National Weather Service said Friday’s storm was both less severe and faster-moving than the one that hit the Southland on Thursday and predicted that the rain would end overnight, with skies gradually clearing through the early part of next week.

Orange County had no fatal accidents or serious mud slides, but traffic slowed to a crawl and in some places came to a halt as rain drenched freeways and surface streets.

Downpours at scattered places in Orange County began about 2 p.m. and intermittently continued until late afternoon. The rain caught many motorists as they were heading home for the weekend. The result was worse-than-usual congestion on freeways and major surface streets.

A stretch of Harbor Boulevard, between Warner and Heil avenues in Fountain Valley, became swamped in the late afternoon as rainwater pooled and failed to drain adequately, Fountain Valley police reported. “It’s not the Santa Ana River,” said a police dispatcher, noting that the river bed adjoins Harbor Boulevard in that area.

Drainage Problem

The dispatcher said that while the river was rising somewhat, it had not flooded over the concrete retaining walls. “It’s just a drainage problem on the street itself,” he said.

The Orange County sheriff’s office said it had no reports of mud slides or serious flooding anywhere in the county.

“No emergencies (in boat traffic), but it’s been real slow for boats coming in,” said a Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol deputy at Dana Point.

“The rain slowed traffic in the downtown area quite a bit, but we haven’t had any accidents,” a Laguna Beach police officer said late Friday afternoon.

In Los Angeles County, the wind and rain triggered some mud slides and coastal damage.

Rain-soaked earth oozed across Decker Canyon Road near Decker Canyon School Lane, trapping one pickup truck whose driver hiked to safety, while three other mud slides blocked Mulholland Highway in the same area of Malibu.

Slide Closes PCH

Another mud slide closed Pacific Coast Highway a short time between the region of Big Rock and Las Flores Canyon Road, but Caltrans crews were later able to open all but one northbound lane.

Temporary flooding occurred at intersections and underpasses in Los Angeles as the new storm made its way eastward--Sherman Way was closed for several hours at the Van Nuys Airport underpass due to flooding in the tunnel--but no serious injuries or property damage was reported, although police said traffic was slow and heavy in most parts of the city.

The California Highway Patrol said minor accidents plagued most freeways, but only a few minor injuries were reported.

Two RTD buses collided on slick pavement near the intersection of Crenshaw and Washington boulevards late Friday afternoon. Ambulances transported 15 people to nearby hospitals, but a city Fire Department spokesman said none of the injuries appeared to be serious.

Crash Under Investigation

An RTD spokesman said one of the buses was empty, while the other was carrying passengers but thatthe exact number of people on board was not immediately known. Cause of the crash was under investigation.

The weather service said Friday’s weather system was moving at about 30 m.p.h. and was studded with numerous storm cells that were capable of producing sudden and intense downpours--but usually moved on before dropping enough moisture to do any real damage.

Nonetheless, a traveler’s advisory was issued for strong southeast winds and dense fog predicted overnight in the mountains of Southern California, where the snow level was expected to descend below 6,000 feet before morning.

In addition, meteorologists said the storms were generating heavy swells in the ocean, which were expected to arrive at west-facing beaches today in the form of a 10-foot surf. The weather service said there could be some damage but predicted that it would be relatively minor because the highest tide is only 4.9 feet, at 1:33 a.m. today.

Survey Their Losses

Meanwhile, there were a few moments of sunshine between the storms, and residents of fire-scarred Matilija Canyon in Ventura County used the respite to survey their losses.

Mud slides touched off by Thursday’s downpour had ripped one canyon home from its foundation, caused another to collapse and seriously damaged a third, as well as blocking the only access road.

About 40 residents who were evacuated on foot and by helicopter Thursday returned to the canyon Friday morning, but most stopped only long enough to retrieve prized possessions and automobiles. Road crews had cleared a single escape lane, and drivers used it.

“I’ll come back when the rain quits,” said Harvey Michaels, 67.

The weather service issued a flash-flood watch for the area as the second storm arrived, and residents who stayed behind said they were ready to evacuate if the hillsides began to move.

Rainfall Statistics

But the new storm passed quickly and left only about half an inch of rain behind, and by late afternoon Ventura County authorities said it seemed possible that no new damage might result.

Rainfall from the new storm at Los Angeles Civic Center amounted to only .42 of an inch by 4 p.m. Friday, bringing the season total to 5.87 inches--well below the 8.46 inches that had fallen by this time last year, and the 8.11 inches that would be normal for this time of year.

In Orange County, Santa Ana had .54 of an inch of rain by 4 p.m. Friday; San Juan Capistrano, .35; Newport Beach, .55, and El Toro, .53.

The forecast for today calls for the chance of rain dwindling to 10%. The forecast also calls for partly cloudy skies today and Sunday.