NORTHRIDGE, CA — Another storm will strike the Southland early Wednesday, creating flood risks throughout the region, according to forecasters. However, the weather system is not expected to be as cold or wet as last week's rain storm.

The fast moving cold front will bring a period of heavy rain Wednesday that is expected to create a risk of flash floods. A flood watch will go into effect for all of Orange County Wednesday morning.



In L.A. County, the rain will start early Wednesday and last through Wednesday night, said NWS meteorologist Curt Kaplan. About a half-inch to an inch-and-a-half of rain is expected, Certain areas including the San Gabriel Mountains could see as much as three inches of rain, forecasters said.

The snow level is not expected to reach as low as it did lasting week, shutting down holiday travel through the Grapevine. Mountain communities last week saw up to four feet of snow, and hundreds were snowed in up in Big Bear. No snow-related disruptions on Interstate 5 through the Grapevine are expected this time around, Kaplan said, adding that there will be a "slight chance" of thunderstorms.

Forecasters said Monday that there was chance of only minor mud slides or debris flows over slopes previously denuded by wildfire. But Kaplan said early Tuesday that forecasters will want to examine the latest computer models of the storm during daytime hours Tuesday before issuing updated forecasts. Once they had, they concluded that there was a "low risk" of serious mud slides or debris flows, NWS meteorologist Tom Fisher said at 10 Tuesday morning.

On Friday night, another storm system will roll into the Southland. It will depart quickly on Saturday.

The National Weather Service forecast mostly cloudy skies in L.A. County Tuesday and highs of 56 degrees on Mount Wilson and in Palmdale; 57 in Lancaster; 64 in Saugus; 66 in Avalon; 68 at LAX and in Long Beach, San Gabriel and Burbank; and 69 in Downtown L.A and Woodland Hills. Wedensday's highs amid rain will be up to 10 degrees lower, then climb by a few degrees amid partly cloudy skies on Thursday. Showers are forecast Saturday.

Mostly cloudy skies were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 57 on Santiago Peak; 65 in Laguna Beach and on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 66 in Newport Beach and San Clemente; 68 in Fullerton and Mission Viejo; and 69 in Yorba Linda, Anaheim and Irvine. Highs will be up to 10 degrees lower amid showers Wednesday, then rise by a few degrees on Thursday. Showers are expected Saturday.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.