A storm that turned out to be weaker than expected moved through Southern California Friday morning and brought light rain to some parts of the region.
Rain arrived early Friday in Ventura County, then moved into Los Angeles County during the morning drive.
The flash flood watch went into effect at 3 a.m. in recent burn areas of Los Angeles County -- in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains and the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel and Antelope valleys. The watch expired later Friday morning.
"It's moved out for the afternoon commute," said NBC4 forecaster Shanna Mendiola. "Your Friday night is looking beautiful. Those clouds will stay with us throughout the evening and throughout the weekend."
Light rain also fell Thursday night from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Barbara County.
Friday's storm was forecast to bring between 2 and 4 inches of rainfall along the Central Coast, but it weakened by the time it worked its way down to Los Angeles County.
The storm is bringing subtropical moisture from Hurricane Seymour, and San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties could see some of the heaviest rainfall. Thunderstorms also are possible.
A flash flood watch was in effect Thursday in area burned by recent wildfires in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains and the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, San Gabriel and Antelope valleys. In Glendora, the city issued a yellow alert, which requires residents to remove vehicles, trash bins and other obstructions from streets to ensure emergency access to the area and prevent damage from possible flooding.
In Duarte, 10 homes near the area of June's Fish Fire were under mandatory evacuation Thursday night, but still remained at the green level alert and is not subject to any type of restriction.
This week's storms -- another one passed through the region Sunday and Monday -- are generating the first of the fall rains in Southern California. Amid moderate temperatures, the snow level will remain at a high 10,000 feet.
The October rain is welcome in a state in its fifth year of drought. More than 80 percent of California remains in moderate drought, down from 97 percent at this time last year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
More than 20 percent of the state is under exceptional drought, the Monitor's most severe category.
Friday's temperatures will be sharply lower amid the rain, with highs expected to reach 72 in downtown L.A. and 73 in Woodland Hills, which will be 14 degrees lower than today's expected high. Temperature highs are expected to be in the 70s under cloudy skies over several days after Friday.
