Summer Ends on Wintry Note As Fall Makes Springlike Entry

• Record Breaking Storm Brings Much-Needed Relief to Malibu Area

BY ANNE SOBLE

A Canadian cold front followed meteorological projections to the letter when it continued on its projected path to the Southland last Friday, bringing with it record setting rainfall for late September and ushering in an autumn unlike any in recent memory.

Following almost six months of rain-free weather, which may be a travel agent’s dream but was a nightmare for human, animal and plant life in terms of diminished water resources and dangerously high wildfire danger, the rain was universally welcomed.

Although the rain’s relief may not have provided cause for long-term jubilation, since a few strong Santa Ana winds could quickly undo its benefits, it still marked the first break in the 2006-2007 dry spell for the area.

A winter storm on the last day of summer was also a wordsmith’s delight. Oxymorons and puns abounded.

The first heavy downpour fell late Friday afternoon, with major surges again Friday night, and, depending on the location, three to four more on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Local sheriff’s department and California Highway Patrol offices reported no major accidents attributable to the storm. City and county road crews quickly jumped into action, clearing soil sloughing and errant rocks almost as soon as they appeared.

The storm was the textbook variety with cold temperatures (as much as 20 degrees below normal), thunder and black clouds the size of football fields. Unofficial rain gauges throughout the community recorded from .25 to .62 inches of precipitation.

The first rain of the season, often referred to as the “first flush” by water quality experts, affected beaches to the south more than those in western Malibu. A lifeguard event on Saturday that was scheduled for Santa Monica Beach was moved to Zuma because of water quality concerns.

The rain saturated many of area’s dry creek beds, but this flow has already been absorbed in many of them. None of the berms of creek outlets into the ocean were breached, including the ones at Malibu Lagoon and Zuma Beach.

Public announcements started as soon as rain began falling concerning the recommendation by Los Angeles County lifeguards and health personnel, as well as Heal The Bay, which issues weekly water quality report cards, that ocean users should wait three days after a storm before going into the water.

In addition, the rainfall was enough to fill, for a while, watering holes for wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains. Deer and coyote have been increasingly visible as their water resources have dried up and they have been forced into residential areas.

With deer come increased concerns about mountain lion interface. The big cats follow their primary food source and must find water despite their natural aversion to human contact.

Temporary respite for vegetation also improves the environment for every other four-footed or winged species, all of which have experienced unusual stress because of the parched terrain.