STORMY WEATHER ON WANE IN WAKE OF HOME SLIDES.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Today just might mark the end of a five-day attack of wild weather that poured 9 inches of rain on Santa Clarita, destroying two hillside homes, turning desert creek beds into raging rivers and making a mess of freeways and highways.

After issuing a tornado warning and flood watch for the region on Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicted dwindling showers today with no sign of more rain on the horizon until early next week.

Santa Clarita city crews cleaned up the remains of two houses in Newhall's Princess neighborhood that fell victim to a slide on Monday.

About 2 p.m., Los Angeles County fire crews scanned the Santa Clara River and the roaring creeks feeding it with churning muddy water for a person seen kayaking and ``in distress,'' dispatchers said. Nobody was found and would-be rescuers assumed the thrill seeker managed to get out at a point where the waterway widened and water was more shallow.

The state Department of Transportation reported the following highway closures:

--One southbound lane of Interstate 5 south of Calgrove Boulevard because of pavement damage;

--One northbound lane of the I-5 north of Templin Highway because of culvert damage;

--One southbound lane of the Antelope Valley Freeway south of Golden Valley Road due to a mudslide;

--Highway 138 from the I-5 to the Antelope Valley Freeway because of flooding, mud and debris.

County road crews shut down local routes including The Old Road south of Calgrove; Bouquet Canyon Road north of Escuerra Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road north of Copper Hill Drive.

To the west, in Ventura County, officials closed the small Santa Paula Airport on Tuesday after more than 155 feet of runway collapsed into the rushing Santa Clara River. Chunks of concrete continued to crumble into the water throughout the day.

``We've lost nearly the entire west third of the airport,'' said Rowena Mason, president of the Santa Paula Airport Association. ``This is millions and millions of dollars worth of damage.''

Showers are likely this morning, tapering off in the evening as winds pick up.

Thursday through Sunday will be partly cloudy with high temperatures in the upper 50s to mid 60s and lows in the upper 30s and 40s. A chance of rain is in the forecast Sunday night, continuing through Tuesday.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) A demolition crew Tuesday finishes up taking down two hillside homes in Newhall's Princess neighborhood that were damaged by mudslides during the heavy rains. Rains were expected to taper off today.

(2) A firefighter looks Tuesday for a kayaker reported ``in distress'' on a roaring creek feeding the Santa Clara River. Rescuers later assumed the thrill seeker managed to get out of the water.

(3) A neighbor watches as demolition crews Tuesday finish knocking down two hillside homes that collapsed during heavy rains. More than 9 inches fell in the five-day onslaught.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer