Storm May Stick Around Awhile

Rain pounded the Southland on Sunday, closing streets, snarling freeway traffic and forcing crews to work on roads throughout Orange County.

The National Weather Service predicted the rain will continue until Wednesday. Today there will be sporadic rain in the morning and heavy showers in the afternoon.

The lingering rain stems from a stalled Pacific storm that is also bringing snow to the mountains.

Numerous accidents occurred on area freeways, said California Highway Patrol Officer J. Rodgers.

“We’ve had one call after another all day--cars spinning out, going over the edges [of highways] and collisions,” he said.

Rodgers’ patrol car was hit while parked in an emergency lane of the northbound Orange Freeway near Katella Avenue at 4:20 p.m. but no one was injured.

Justin Rogge, 21, of Fountain Valley lost control of his Ford Ranger pickup truck before it hit the CHP car, Rodgers said.

Rogge’s truck was impounded for 30 days because he had a suspended driver’s license.

Rodgers was parked in the emergency lane because he was helping another driver whose car had slid down an embankment.

That driver, Janice Yeh, 22, of Anaheim, climbed out of the car through the sunroof because it had rolled onto its side. She was unhurt.

While Rodgers and Yeh talked, Rodgers’ car was hit.

Meanwhile, traffic backed up on the southbound San Diego Freeway in Fountain Valley as Caltrans crews cleaned up a mudslide that forced the closure of two lanes at Talbert Avenue.

No injuries were reported.

In Santa Ana, flooding forced the closure of Segerstrom Avenue between Bristol and Shelton streets.

In Huntington Beach, Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Goldenwest Street and Warner Avenue because of flooding, which is common along that stretch.

But police said homes had not been flooded.

“We’re keeping pretty good,” Huntington Beach Police Lt. Bill Peterson said. “Our city crews are out at potential trouble spots. They will pump out areas if they have to. They are just on storm watch. Everything seems fine for now.”

High temperatures today are expected to range from the mid-50s to the low 60s, with lows in the 40s.