Will L.A.’s first decent rain in months help reduce wildfire risks?

Much of the region recorded some rainfall. A few areas had flooding.

- GRACRE TOOHEY

ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times OUTDOOR enthusiasts take a walk in Orange County after showers relented on Thursday.

For the first time in months, widespread rainfall drenched the Los Angeles area as a strong band of moisture from a dissipated tropical storm moved north.

By Thursday morning, much of Southern California had already recorded some measurable — though mostly minor — rainfall, while a few inland areas were experiencing localized flooding that officials warned could get worse and expand. Much of the region remains under a flood watch through early Friday.

Wet storms across Southern California in September are unusual, but not unheard of, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Monsoonal storms from the east — usually confined to the mountains and deserts — are more typical this time of year, he said, but every once in a while a tropical storm from the eastern Pacific pushes north, bringing bands of rain.

On Wednesday, remnants of former Tropical Storm Mario started to move into Southern California, boosting humidity and the chance for showers and thunderstorms.

The most significant rainfall and strongest storms were forecast for Thursday. Most populated areas of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties were expected to get up to a quarterto a half-inch of rain, while some mountain and desert areas could see up to an inch, according to the National Weather Service.