Drivers Weather Rain Well; Sunny Skies Ahead

Normally, slick streets and commuters can be a recipe for disaster along Southland freeways, but Wednesday--a holiday for many--was an exception as police reported few accidents.

“It’s really nothing more than normal,” California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Richardson said. “Traffic is lighter today because of the [Veterans Day] holiday. There were some minor fender benders. Some are reported as injury crashes, but nothing major.”

Morning commutes on major highways were still sluggish as usual, but other Orange County police agencies echoed Richardson’s statements Wednesday about the roads being nearly empty.

“The weather really hasn’t had any impact on the amount of accidents,” Santa Ana Police Sgt. Steve Despenas said.

The streets of Buena Park are usually backed up on Veterans Day because Knott’s Berry Farm offers free admission to veterans. But because of the rain, police said, even the streets there were quiet.

The weather today and Friday is expected to warm up, with weak Santa Ana winds kicking in Friday. Temperatures across the county will range from the high 60s to low 70s through the end of the week.

The weekend will be sunny. Temperatures Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the high 60s to mid-70s.

Wednesday’s drizzle--which amounted to less than one-quarter inch in most Orange County cities--fell between 6 and 10 a.m.

The storm system lurched in from the northwest and pulled moisture from the Pacific Ocean, sweeping through Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

“It was enough to wet the streets and cause people to slow down,” said Jeff House, a meteorologist for WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times.