2nd Storm Pounds Southland : The Good News: Gradual Clearing Early Next Week

Southern California’s second storm in as many days pounded in from the Pacific on Friday, triggering a new epidemic of traffic tie-ups, mud slides and street floodings--and offering the threat of heavy surf damage along the coastline.

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 will end overnight, with skies gradually clearing through the early part of next week.

Friday’s onslaught of wind and rain arrived at the coastline about noon and made an immediate impression. 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.

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

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, and flooding forced closure of the Terminal Island Freeway by midafternoon--but no property damage or serious injuries were reported, although police said traffic was slow and heavy in most parts of the city.

And slowing down could present problems, too: Traffic was snarled near the intersection of the Foothill and San Bernardino freeways when a tractor-trailer rig loaded with cottonseed hulls skidded and overturned while trying to stop for traffic backed up by another accident.

An automobile in a nearby lane was buried in 23,000 pounds of cottonseed hulls, but its driver, identified as John Sweat, 44, of Pomona, escaped unharmed. The roadway was finally cleared after two hours.

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

Two RTD buses collided on slick pavement near 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.

An RTD spokesman said one of the buses was empty, while the other was carrying 32 passengers. 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 travelers’ advisory was issued for strong southeast winds, and dense fog was predicted overnight in the mountains of Southern California, where the snow level was expected to drop below 6,000 feet before morning.

Heavy Surf Due

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 will be relatively minor since the highest tide was expected to be only 4.9 feet at 1:33 a.m. today.

Meanwhile, there had been 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 while blocking the only access road.

Evacuated Residents Return

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.

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 would result.

.42 of an Inch Downtown

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.

Northridge was hit harder, with 1.11 inches; Monrovia got .80 of an inch; Santa Monica received .76 of an inch, and Mt. Wilson absorbed a whopping 1.94 inches during the day.

High temperature at Civic Center was 65 degrees, with relative humidity ranging from 70% to 90%. The forecast called for about the same today with the chance of rain dwindling to only 10% overnight and partly cloudy weather expected today and Sunday.