Expect a rainy week

It’s raining, but not pouring, at least not yet.

On Monday, some patches of the Newport-Mesa area got rained on, and there’s a 20% chance of showers through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather will most likely clear up in the middle of the week but by week’s end there will be a 50% chance of rain heading into the weekend, said forecaster Stefanie Sullivan.

Rain levels are normal for this time of month, Sullivan said. For the season, though, “we are a little bit below but by the end of this week we should be up to normal,” she added.

Snowboarders and skiers can look forward to a fresh layer of powder, Sullivan said.

“We should see some snow in the 4,000-foot area,” Sullivan said, adding that those heading up to Big Bear won’t be disappointed.

For drivers, it means more hazardous traffic conditions on the road, said Costa Mesa police.

“Driving in the rain, the biggest thing is [drivers] need to slow down,” said Investigator Floyd Waldron. “They tend to drive the same speeds as they do on dry roadways and they just can’t stop at the same speeds.”

Another concern is the oil buildup that collects on roads between rain storms, Waldron said.

“First rains we have after a dry spell it seems the water hits the oil and makes things a lot more slippery,” he said. “We get a lot of rear end [accidents].”

KELLY STRODL may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at kelly.strodl@latimes.com.