March 03--A storm headed for Southern California will make a raucous arrival this weekend when waves up to 15 feet high are expected to pound the coast followed by more than an inch of rain, the National Weather Service said.
Starting Friday, waters off the Ventura and Los Angeles county coasts will begin churning up heavy surf that could erode beaches and, when high tide peaks, create some coastal flooding, the agency warned.
Waves off L.A. beaches will average six to 10 feet but could range to 15 feet, said meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie. Even stronger surf is predicted for San Luis Obispo County, where waves of up to 22 feet could hit the coastline through Tuesday afternoon.
Rain is also forecast for the weekend.
"It's going to come through the entire area," Hoxsie said.
The storm will flow south over Ventura County and across Los Angeles County and drop up to two inches of rain between Sunday and early Monday, she said. The heaviest rain is expected Sunday morning, she said.
The conditions for rain to roll through Southern California have slightly improved from February, when a high pressure ridge deflected El Nitorms north. The current weather pattern could lay out a welcome mat for more rain next week too, Hoxsie said.
The storm could also dump snow in the mountains and help some resorts at Mountain High reopen, she said.
The ski area, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, closed Sunday because of warm weather and won't reopen until new snow falls. The Wrightwood resort said it expects new snow later next week.
Mountain High, which typically shuts down in mid-April, called the closure a "break in the action" and insisted the ski season isn't over yet.
Temperatures are expected to drop to the low 50s this weekend through early next week, the weather service said.
Follow me @josephserna
