Heavy rain and snow are expected to be replaced by sub-freezing temperatures in some areas of Southern California after the first major storm of the season pummeled the region Monday, triggering evacuations in some burn areas, collapsing the roof of a school and causing at least two traffic fatalities.
The storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain in some areas, including Beverly Hills, and nearly 2 feet of snow in the mountains, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected through Wednesday afternoon as the massive storm system begins moving out of the area.
"This is atypical for this time of year, a very cold Alaskan storm that carries significant rain," Seto said. "As it moves through, temperatures are going to be significantly colder than normal."
Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-30s throughout the region by late Wednesday, but some areas, including the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County and portions of inland Ventura County, could see the mercury dip even lower, Seto said.
Avocado and citrus growers are prepared in the event that temperatures plunge into the upper-20s late Thursday, said John Krist, chief executive of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. A January 2007 freeze resulted in an estimated $1.3 billion in county crop losses.
But this week's cold snap is expected to be brief and -- with proper precautions -- unlikely to cause significant damage, Krist said. "It will be chilly but we don't expect to see much, if any, real crop damage from it."
On Monday, the winter storm's heavy rains wreaked havoc across the region.
In Anaheim, 13 people were taken to local hospitals after the roof collapsed at the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program building while students were inside, authorities said. One of four main drains of the 20,000-square-foot structure was not working, causing water to accumulate on the roof, said Maria Sabol, spokeswoman for the Anaheim Fire Department.
One woman was trapped under roof debris and had to be extricated, Sabol said. Other victims reported back injuries, difficulty breathing, sore shoulders and anxiety, she said.
In Hacienda Heights, California Highway Patrol Officer Joseph Sanders was responding to a rain-related single-car crash on the eastbound 60 Freeway about 4:30 a.m. Monday when he was struck by another car and killed, authorities said. Sanders, 29, was setting down flares at the scene when two other vehicles crashed and skidded out of control, and one vehicle struck the officer.
