Storm Brings Rain, Snow to Southland, Causes Traffic Death

Southern California was wet along the coast and snowy in the mountains Sunday as a fast-moving storm swept in from the Pacific, claiming at least one life in traffic and offering the threat of mud slides to hills laid bare by summer fires.

Showers in Orange County forced postponement of an open-air benefit concert to aid victims of the Sept. 19 earthquake in Mexico, and the showers were blamed for a series of minor traffic mishaps on rain-slick roads.

“This is California; if it rains, nobody goes any place,” said a disappointed Eddie Carter, a member of the ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll group “Vernon Green and the Medal Lions” and one of several performers waiting Sunday in the rain-soaked wings of Santa Ana Stadium.

The National Weather Service said the storm, which was accompanied by strong, gusty winds, should be on the wane today, leaving from one to two inches of rainfall in the lowlands--and perhaps half a foot of snow at mountain resorts above 7,000 feet.

Flood Watches

Meanwhile, flood watches were issued for southeast Santa Barbara and Ventura counties--including the foothills north of Carpinteria, Matilija Creek and the communities of Oakview, Live Oak Acres, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Ojai--while winter storm warnings were issued for all Northern and Central California areas above 4,000 feet.

By late evening, however, fire and flood control authorities in Ventura and Los Angeles counties said damage appeared to be limited to a few minor slides.

The California Highway Patrol blamed intermittent rain that began moving in from coastal areas during early afternoon for a Lancaster accident that left an automobile passenger dead and the driver of the vehicle seriously injured.

CHP Capt. Tom Wildey said a small passenger car went out of control on rain-slicked streets and flipped over near West 128th Street and Lancaster Road. The driver was taken by helicopter to Antelope Valley Medical Center. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither was immediately identified.

The weather was blamed for several other less serious traffic accidents, but police and the Highway Patrol said no other major injuries had been reported by late Sunday night.

Two automobiles were briefly trapped in deep mud when rain sent the side of a hill sliding down on the southern end of Malibu Canyon Road, about two miles north of Pacific Coast Highway.

Neither car was entirely buried, however, and a Highway Patrol spokesman said there were no injuries. All lanes of the road were blocked in both directions, but road crews cleared the mud, allowing traffic to proceed within half an hour.

In Santa Ana, where .07 of an inch of rain had fallen by 5 p.m. Sunday, about two dozen people braved the wet and cold to attend the “Mexico, We Have Not Forgotten You” benefit concert at the open-air Santa Ana Stadium, also known as Eddie West Field.

Concert Postponed

Although the rain had stopped before the 5 p.m. concert would have begun, the disappointing turnout, wet benches and forbidding skies prompted organizers to cancel the five-hour show at a cost of $9,800.

The event, featuring popular bands Tierra, the Drifters and the Coasters, was expected to draw 8,000 people and raise an estimated $80,000 for the American Red Cross Mexican assistance program.

Organizer Cathy O’Campo said the benefit would be rescheduled for early December--this time at an indoor auditorium. O’Campo said pre-sold $10 tickets would be honored at the door.

The benefit is being co-sponsored by the City of Santa Ana and several Orange County Latino and Vietnamese community groups.

Sunday’s high temperature in Orange County was 64 degrees in Newport Beach, where .07 of an inch of rain had fallen by late afternoon. Sunday’s low temperature of 49 degrees was recorded in San Juan Capistrano, where .06 of an inch of rain had fallen.

More Rain Elsewhere

Other parts of the Southland were wetter. By sunset, .46 of an inch of rain had fallen at Santa Barbara, .26 in Woodland Hills, .22 at Northridge, .17 at Lemon Grove, .16 at Spring Valley, .15 at Point Loma, Coronado and Torrance, .14 at Vista, .13 at Montebello, .12 at Santa Monica and .11 at Mt. Wilson. At the Los Angeles Civic Center, .07 of an inch had fallen by late afternoon.

Central California, not surprisingly, absorbed the brunt of the storm, with 3.35 inches of rain at the Marin Civic Center, and 1.69 inches in San Francisco.

Heavy snow was reported in the San Gabriel Mountains at altitudes above 6,500 feet, and residents of the Big Bear area in the San Bernardino Mountains said it was beginning to snow there--to the accompaniment of strong, gusty winds.

Chains and Snow Tires

Caltrans was requiring chains or snow tires for all vehicles entering the Sierra, and parts of California 88 and 89 were closed because of snowslides in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe, where the snow level was expected to drop below 5,000 feet overnight.

Forecasters called for some showers today, with a chance of isolated thundershowers and winds gusting to 25 m.p.h. Skies were expected to clear this evening to become fair and breezy on Tuesday. Highs today should be about 60, dipping to the upper 40s tonight, with slightly warmer days Tuesday.

The outlook for Thanksgiving Day was for partly cloudy skies with highs in the low to mid-60s.