Heavy Rain to Drench SoCal Today

Commuters should expect a rough ride on the roads tonight when rain expected to arrive today in the Southland will be at its heaviest.

"Around 5 p.m., it's going to be bad," said National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Rorke.

The storm could also produce thunderstorms, lightning and waterspouts before clearing out Thursday, NWS forecasters said.

The light rain and slippery roads in some areas this morning won't compare with when the center of the storm comes onshore this afternoon, forecasters said.

The NWS forecast between a half-inch and an inch of rain from southern Santa Barbara to Los Angeles County.

The rain is expected to taper off Wednesday night, with a chance of showers lingering through the day Thursday, according to an NWS advisory.

The heavy rain tonight might cause flooding in poorly drained areas. Waterspouts, downpours and "thunderstorms with dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes" are also possible, according to NWS forecasters.

Temperatures are expected to reach the high 60s and low 70s today. Highs will fall by a few degrees Thursday before a warming trend gets under way Friday.

—City News Service contributed to this report.