Rain Expected Today Before Week in the Sun

A fast-moving low-pressure system is expected to dump more rain on the San Fernando Valley today before giving way to sunny conditions the remainder of the week, forecasters said.

Predictions call for increasing clouds throughout the day with rain developing by the evening rush hour.

Rainfall totals may reach half an inch in some areas of the Valley, said Jeff House of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

“This will be a faster-moving storm than the one that came through the first part of the weekend,� House said. “It will get in and get out.�

Temperatures will remain on the cool side today with afternoon highs hitting the mid-60s and lows dropping to the upper 40s to low 50s.

Once the storm rolls through, cloudiness will decrease with temperatures hitting the low to mid-60s, House said.

“There’s still a chance of showers in the morning Tuesday, but most of the rain will be over by then,� House said. “Wednesday, highs will be in the 70s, under mostly clear skies with increasing clouds by Friday.�

Despite the weather, the number of fatalities on area roadways dropped compared with the Thanksgiving holiday last year, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Bob Granieri.

Across the state, there were 28 traffic-related deaths, down from 48 deaths in 1997, Granieri said.

CHP officers also arrested 286 motorists in Los Angeles County for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, up marginally from a total of 284 arrests last year, he said.

Statewide, there were 1,256 drunk driving arrests, up from 1,203 arrests in 1997, according to Granieri, who attributed those totals to the enforcement effort centered on holidays.