Heavy Rains Continue in So. Cal

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fast-moving thunderstorms brought new waves of rain on Sunday to Southern California, following days of drenching weather and heavy mountain snowfall and raising fears of mudslides and flooding.

The worst of the storm was over, and Monday promised to bring a spell of clear weather, forecasters said.

"Things will start to die down as the night goes on," said National Weather Service forecaster Ryan Kittell.

Up to 3 inches of rain had fallen by early afternoon in valley and coastal areas since nightfall Saturday, with about 4 inches in the mountains, forecasters said. Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph were reported in some areas.

Officials said the rain brought a threat of serious slides on hillsides stripped of vegetation by last year's wildfires. Mud and minor rock slides prompted authorities to shut a highway through a burned area near San Diego. Voluntary evacuations were called off Sunday night in heavily burned Modjeska Canyon in Orange County.

The Los Angeles County and Orange County fire departments were on standby for possible flash floods and slides. Flash flood watches remained in effect through Sunday night for Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties.

To avoid overflow, the flood gates at the Big Tujunga Dam in the San Gabriel Mountains were opened Sunday, releasing 500 cubic feet of water a second.

Department of Public Works spokesman Gary Boze said the controlled flooding was routine during heavy storms.