Warnings of Heavy Rainfall Evaporate

Despite dire warnings that strong winter storms would soak Ventura County through New Year’s Day, forecasters now predict only a small amount of rain will make its way to Southern California.

“The front that’s been bringing all the rain and wind to Northern and Central California hasn’t pushed its way to Ventura County yet,” said Jon Erdman, a forecaster and meteorologist for WeatherData Inc. “We may just see some scattered showers over Ventura County on Wednesday.”

Erdman said the storm expected to pass through the area Tuesday and today has not moved farther south than Monterey Bay.

Tuesday’s occasional showers dumped only a fraction of an inch of rain throughout Ventura County, forecasters at the National Weather Service bureau in Oxnard said. The precipitation is not expected to add significantly to the region’s water reserves.

Intermittent light showers are expected to continue through Thursday, with rainfall amounting to an inch or less throughout the county over the New Year’s holiday. The National Weather Service predicted only a 20% chance of rain in the county through Thursday.

Daytime temperatures in Ventura County’s lowlands and the Conejo Valley are expected to rise into the mid-60s today and Thursday. Evening temperatures should drop into the mid-50s.