Latest: LA County issues beach bacteria warning after rain

LOS ANGELES – The Latest on rain in California (all times local):

10:50 a.m.

Los Angeles County health officials are advising swimmers and surfers to stay out of the ocean for at least three days because of storm runoff.

The rain advisory issued Monday came as a storm system moved through Southern California after bringing more than an inch of rain in some areas.

Bacteria levels can increase significantly during and after rainstorms as contaminants in the runoff enter the ocean via storm drains, creeks and rivers.

The advisory, customary following heavy rains, is in place through Thursday morning.

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7:20 a.m.

Skies are clearing in much of Southern California after a wet autumn storm packing heavy rain flooded roads and knocked out power to thousands.

The California Highway Patrol says about 200 collisions were reported on Los Angeles County freeways between 9 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday — compared with 30 during the same period a week ago when it was dry.

The National Weather Service says about an inch of rain fell across much of the region. Rocky Butte in San Luis Obispo reported more than 2.2 inches.

Snow fell in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, with as much as 8 inches expected above 7,000 feet.

A swiftwater rescue team rescued four people from an island on the raging Los Angeles River just north of downtown LA. They were not injured.

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7:10 a.m.

Forecasters say it’s going to be a soggy Thanksgiving week in Northern California.

After a brief respite from rain on Monday, showers are expected to move in to the San Francisco area again Tuesday evening as travellers begin heading out for the holiday.

National Weather Forecaster Anna Schneider says a continuing series of storms will dump rain across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

Schneider says the holiday Thursday will begin with dry skies but another round of rain will begin pushing into the region later in the day.

Rain will return Friday and most of the weekend will be wet.

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5:30 a.m.

Southern California is getting a much-needed soaking from an autumn storm that has flooded freeways, engorged rivers and knocked out electricity.

A swiftwater rescue team using boats plucked four people from an island on the raging Los Angeles River early Monday just north of downtown LA. Fire officials say the two men and two women, believed to be transients, became trapped after heavy rain increased the river flow. The four were not injured.

The National Weather Service says more than an inch of rain fell Sunday in mountains above Malibu.

Power was mostly restored after hundreds of customers lost electricity during thunderstorms in northern Orange County.

While most flood advisories have expired, the potential remains for debris flows in foothill neighbourhoods below wildfire burn areas.

To the north the storm brought weekend snow to parts of the Sierra.