CaliforniaUSA
Image: A truck plows snow from the shoulder of Interstate 5, which remains closed as a result of a winter storm Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, in Castaic, Calif., about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
POINT MUGU Calif. - A powerful winter storm that unleashed a thick blanket of mountain snow, heavy rain and at least one tornado pounded Southern California for a fifth straight day Friday.
Some areas Thursday received more rain than they did the entire year before, National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Meier said, though experts said the moisture would do little to improve local water supplies.
By Friday morning, Long Beach had received 2.43 inches of rain, compared to 2.1 over the previous 12 months, Meier said. Downtown Los Angeles had received 2.25 inches and Santa Barbara was drenched with 5.4 inches
