Rain Was Only Small Taste of Storms to Come

The winter storm system that dumped more than an inch of rain in some parts of Ventura County on Sunday morning may seem tame compared to the thunderstorms forecast for today, National Weather Service officials say.

“It looks like we’re in for another good round of showers,” said weather specialist Stuart Seto.

A new band of water-packed clouds moved across Ventura County during the night, pushing this season’s rain totals--which are already ahead of normal--to new heights.

For example, Matilija Dam has been drenched with 4.68 inches of rain since the rain year began Oct. 1. Normal for this time of year is 3.79 inches.

Today’s expected showers, Seto said, “could run our rainfalls up quite a bit more.”

Oxnard was the county’s wettest spot Sunday, receiving 1.28 inches of rain, Seto said. That brings the city’s rainfall amount to 3.63 inches, 1 1/2 inches above normal. At the other end of the rainfall gauge Sunday was Point Mugu, where about one-third of an inch fell.

Nearly three-quarters of an inch of rain fell in Thousand Oaks.

High temperatures across the county Sunday ranged from a brisk 54 in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, to a comfortable 62 in Oxnard.

Today’s highs are expected to be in the mid-60s, with lows tonight in the mid- to upper 40s.

Areas above 5,000 feet could receive 7 inches of snow today.

“I would say we’re ahead of the snow as far as Mt. Pinos goes,” said Tom Johnston, a climatologist and cooperative observer for the weather service.

“We’ve only had 5 inches total at Mt. Pinos so far,” he said. “It’s looking like we might be getting connected to the El Nino.”

The midweek forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a gradual warming through Thursday, with highs nearing 70. The lows will remain in the 40s, Seto said.

Rain could return by Friday, he said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

County Rainfall

Here are rainfall figures from the Ventura County Flood Control Department for the 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m. Sunday . Oct. 1 is the beginning of the official rain year.

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Rainfall Rainfall Normal rainfall Location last 24 hours since Oct. 1 to date Camarillo 1.02 2.71 2.28 Casitas Dam 0.79 3.57 3.47 Casitas Rec. Center 0.75 3.48 3.72 Fillmore NA NA 3.30 Matilija Dam 1.06 4.68 3.79 Moorpark NA NA 2.42 Ojai 0.91 2.99 3.07 Upper Ojai 1.38 4.72 3.35 Oxnard 1.28 3.63 2.10 Piru 0.95 NA 2.58 Port Hueneme 0.44 1.98 2.18 Santa Paula 0.94 3.33 2.90 Simi Valley 0.82 2.97 2.19 Thousand Oaks 0.82 2.89 2.39 Ventura Govt. Center 0.91 2.85 2.38

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