Series of winter storms promise for another wet weekend
Friday December 20, 2002By MARGIE MASON
Associated Press Writer
The second in a series of winter storms swept through California drenching much of the already-saturated state while residents braced for another wet weekend.
In Northern California, the storm brought gale-force winds and an unusual dusting of snow to the coastal mountains north of San Francisco on Thursday. Nearly a foot of fresh powder was predicted for the Lake Tahoe area.
The cold front chugged its way south and brought moderate amounts of rain to Southern California early Friday. Downtown Los Angeles received 1.2 inches of rain while other parts of the region registered more than 2 inches, the National Weather Service said.
Snowfall forced Friday's closure of Interstate 5 in both directions through the Grapevine north of Los Angeles. Between 10 and 18 inches of snow were expected to fall above 5,500 feet in the mountains of Southern California.
Forecasters said the latest storm and another pair expected this weekend are much weaker than a storm that pounded the state earlier this week.
``We have definitely already seen the worst of it,'' NWS forecaster Will Pi said. ``I think Saturday we'll still have some showers around but by Sunday we should be drying out.''
Northern California has endured the brunt of the storm, which flooded streets and rivers, knocked out power to thousands of residents and kicked up the surf. San Francisco recorded 1.34 inches of rain on Thursday and has already taken more than 8 inches of rain this month, NWS forecaster Mark Lenz said.
The weather wasn't all bite it had a bark as well.
Thunderstorms forced the Oakland Raiders to cut short their practice when lightning struck close to the team's Alameda practice facilities.
``A bolt came out (and it was) time to go in,'' said head coach Bill Callahan.
Authorities dealt with crawling traffic all over the region as crews worked to clear downed wires and trees blocking roadways.
Nearly 68,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers were without power systemwide Thursday afternoon, spokesman Tom Hill said. At the peak of this storm, 119,088 customers were in the dark.
Up to 2 feet of snow was expected to fall by Friday in the higher elevations of the Sierras, piling on the 9 feet that fell since Saturday on some peaks.
Near Truckee, where the power and phone lines at the local ranger station were down, the U.S. Forest Service said avalanches could be a problem above 6,500 feet.
Meanwhile, an unusual dumping of snow hit the North Coast, where up to a foot was expected above 3,000 feet.
Near Willits, a nine-mile stretch of Highway 101 was closed due to heavy snow, CHP officials said.
``I have never had to have chains. Maybe going up the mountain, but not for the highway,'' said motorist Joan Hannan of Garberville. ``I have been without electricity up there for four days and now we get this. This could really put a crimp in grinch season.''
A warning also was issued in the Monterey Bay area advising wave watchers to stay well away from the crashing surf as winds gusted up to 50 mph. Small boats were instructed to find safe harbor as quickly as possible.
(