Day 4 of Biblical Rainstorm 2010

We survived Day 3 without too much difficulty. Probably got somewhere near another 2" of rain, but didn't have the huge and lengthy downpours we had on Day 2. Lots of flooding problems in other areas, but around here everything stayed pretty much under control.

Sadly, the Lord called my backyard pump home so I may have to go find another one to deal with what's coming today:

A new Pacific storm will unleash the worst of its fury across Southern California and Arizona today into tonight. The resultant flooding, mudslides, burying mountain snow, damaging winds and severe thunderstorms will endanger more lives and property.

Today's storm is the fourth in a series of Pacific storms to slam into California this week.

The storms from Sunday to Wednesday dumped nearly 74 inches of snow on a mountain in the southern Sierra. The desert city of Palm Springs, Calif., received 42 percent of its average annual rainfall in those four days.

Showers are dampening Los Angeles, but heavy rain will return this afternoon with the arrival of the newest storm.

It is inevitable that the heavy rain through tonight will trigger more flooding and mudslides across Southern California and Arizona.

The rain will turn streams, rivers and washes into raging torrents. Officials may be forced to close more roads that become either flooded, washed out or covered by mud. Mudslides could even destroy homes nestled in the foothills or mountains.

There's a lot of concern about a number of the piers in the area with today's storm. Right now tides are very high and the storm winds are driving very impressive waves against our coast, causing both coastal flooding and in some cases sending waves over the piers. I can remember storms in the past when whole sections of piers just dropped into the sea.

Today could be the biggest storm of the four we've had so far. The Low which has been sending all these waves our way will cross the coast somewhere near Los Angeles, and that could give us a very wild day. Still more rain tomorrow before it all settles down over the weekend.