More rain douses already-saturated Los Angeles area

Another storm system pushed into the already saturated Southland Wednesday, leading to a wet morning commute and raising fears of mud and debris flows, and forecasters said another wave of rain will arrive later in the day and continue into Thursday.

"Phase one of the storm has moved into L.A. County this morning which is right on schedule," according to the National Weather Service on Wednesday. "Overall the storm has behaved very much

By City News Service

as expected. Rain amounts have been averaging between a half and one inch. A little less in some (areas) and a little more in others."

Forecasters said the snow level had fallen to about 4,000 feet Wednesday morning, bringing a mix of rain and snow to higher elevations. The latest round of rain again increased concerns about already-saturated ground giving away in the form of mudslides. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded shortly after 8 a.m. to a roughly quarter-acre mudslide in the Beverly Crest area that blocked at least two residential driveways.

Building and Safety crews were dispatched to the scene to assess any potential danger to homes in the area.

By late morning Wednesday, the rain was expected to taper off in Los Angeles County, with some shortlived sunshine expected.

The NWS predicted "increasing showers and possible thunderstorms (Wednesday night) into

See Rain Page 32