Large plume of rain headed our way

This morning's flash flood watch from the National Weather Service advises that a lot of water will be coming down, with the usual potential consequences. This moisture is of the warmer sub-tropical sort, so that means less snow and more rain on the already-wet mountainsides.

A plume of very deep subtropical moisture across the Pacific Ocean will continue to stream across southwestern California through Wednesday night...bringing periods of rain to the region.

The rain may be heavy at times through Wednesday evening. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact timing of the heaviest rain...it appears the greatest chances for heavy rain will be late this afternoon through early Tuesday...and again Tuesday night into Wednesday. The highest rainfall totals through Wednesday are expected in the foothills and mountains from southeastern Santa Barbara County through Los Angeles County ... especially on and below south and southwest facing slopes.

Increasing instability Tuesday night and Wednesday will bring the possibility of thunderstorms to the region. Rainfall rates over 1 inch per hour are possible in any thunderstorms.

Small rockslides have caused authorities to close Pacific Coast Highway to all but local traffic north of Malibu, from north of Neptune's Net to Point Mugu.