The Calm Before the Storm

Ominous clouds drifted over Sherman Oaks on Tuesday, a sign of the pending storm set to pound Southern California.

"It is what it is," said local business owner David Meyer. "We need it."

And like it or not, we're going to get it. The National Weather Service predicted a 30 percent chance of storms starting Tuesday night with an 80 percent chance of rain Wednesday with 10-mile-per-hour winds. The rain appears likely to last on and off through the weekend.

"I’m a Vespa dealer, so I'm not very happy," Meyer said. "I'd rather have five-dollar gas than another round of storms."

Most of Los Angeles County received a brief preview, with rain washing the streets Monday night and continued drizzle through Tuesday morning and afternoon.

"The Valley needs better draining systems," said Alice Siddall of Santa Monica, who was visiting her Sherman Oaks dentist. 

"I used to live in the Valley, and when it rains the puddles are enormous," she said. "It's very dangerous."

Tennis courts that were bustling Monday were virtually empty Tuesday.  Water pooled on the courts at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Pay Tennis Facility.

The Los Angeles River was running from the overnight rain. In the hills above Ventura Boulevard, small streams of runoff were spotted.  

Just a taste of what's likely ahead.