SPEEDY STORM BRINGS SHOWERS, FENDER BENDERS.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer

A fast-moving storm interrupted Los Angeles' warm, dry La Nina winter Tuesday, jamming freeways and triggering a rash of crashes.

Meteorologists say this winter is shaping up to be one of the driest on record.

``There have been dry winters before, but this is the driest I've seen in a long time,'' said Jonathan Slemmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. ``Our rainfall this year has been significantly low.''

The driest winter recorded was in 1953 when only 4.08 inches of rain fell in Los Angeles. Los Angeles averages about 12 inches of rain per year, Slemmer said.

So far this season, 4.33 inches of rain have fallen, compared with the 23.11 inches that fell during the same period last year because of El Nino-driven storms, according to the weather service. The normal rainfall to date is 11.81 inches.

La Nina, a global weather phenomenon that is the opposite of El Nino, causes a mass of cold water to pool at the equator, shifting the weather-producing jet stream above Los Angeles.

Tuesday's rainfall measured about a quarter-inch in the Los Angeles basin, with a little more in the mountains and a little less in the valleys, Slemmer said.

The Los Angeles Civic Center received 0.05 of an inch; Woodland Hills, 0.06 of an inch; Van Nuys, 0.06 of an inch; Chatsworth, 0.18 of an inch; and Burbank, only trace levels of unmeasurable rainfall.

Clouds are expected to disappear today, but they could be back with another round of light rain Thursday, Slemmer said.

Despite the dry winter, Department of Water and Power officials said Los Angeles is not due for a repeat of the drought conditions of early 1990s when water prices rose and conservation was encouraged.

And that is because much of Los Angeles' water comes from the Sierras, where the La Nina winter has contributed to a bountiful snowfall.

``The snowpack in the eastern Sierras is at 110 percent, and there's enough supply here to last a while,'' DWP spokeswoman Darlene Battle said. ``Our customers have been doing a great job conserving.''

Tuesday's rain began well after the 5 a.m. start of the morning commute, CHP Officer Shirley Gaines said. Driving didn't get bad until the sun rose, she said.

Nearly 180 traffic collisions were reported on Los Angeles freeways between 5 and 9 a.m., CHP Sgt. Ernie Sanchez said. On a nonrainy Tuesday last week only 70 crashes were reported, he said.

``Motorists really need to slow down in rainy conditions and leave lots of space between themselves and the car in front of them,'' Sanchez said. ``People also need to allow themselves more time to get where they are going. Rushing around in weather like this is very dangerous.''

Traffic was worst on the northbound San Diego Freeway at Burbank Boulevard where several cars collided about 8:30 a.m., injuring several people and closing three lanes, Gaines said.

The Golden State and Hollywood freeways nearing downtown Los Angeles also were backed up and most other freeways were slow. Numerous surface streets also were difficult for drivers due to weather-related slowing.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, chart

PHOTO (1) Workers prepare to remove an overturned car Tuesday on the northbound San Diego Freeway in Van Nuys that briefly shut lanes.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

(2) Traffic on the eastbound Ronald Reagan Freeway backed up for miles Tuesday behind two jackknifed trucks on the slick roadway.

John Lazar/Daily News

Chart: Rainfall totals