Storm brings high surf, slick roads to Southern California

Weather officials are warning of high surf and slick roads -- which have already been blamed for multiple traffic accidents -- as a series of storms passes through Southern California. Scattered showers have fallen throughout much of greater Los Angeles beginning Wednesday evening and are expected to continue through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Between one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain are expected to fall on the L.A. County coast and valleys, while foothill and mountain areas are expected to get as much as 1 1/2 inches.

Most of the rain was expected to fall in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, where mountain areas could receive from 1 inch to 2 inches of rain, the Weather Service said.

The strongest storms are expected Sunday afternoon and evening, the weather service said.

The storms are expected to cause high surf along west-facing beaches. By Thursday morning, beaches in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties could see waves from 6 to 12 feet, with some sets topping out at 15 feet, according to forecasters.

As the first storm swept through the Los Angeles area Wednesday evening, wind gusts of 36 mph were reported in Palmdale and Lancaster. In Northern California, the wet weather and high winds made area roads slick and knocked down power lines in some areas, officials said.

Sandbags will be available at all Los Angeles Fire Department stations. The city Bureau of Street Services will also provide sandbags and sand.

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-- Robert Lopez and Wesley Lowery

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Photo: Pedestrians stroll with their umbrellas on the Huntington Beach Pier under a light drizzle before sunrise Thursday. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times