WATERED DOWN SEASON'S FIRST STORM HITS SOUTHLAND.

Byline: Daily News

The biggest storm of the season so far rolled into Southern California on Saturday, drenching the moisture-starved region and providing a blustery backdrop to the holiday weekend.

The Pacific storm system brought high wind advisories in parts of the region and left California Highway Patrol officers and firefighters scrambling to handle traffic crashes.

``First big storm of the season,'' said meteorologist Bill Hoffer at the National Weather Service in Oxnard. ``It's a real strong Pacific storm system.''

Rainfall of one-half to three-quarters of an inch hit the San Fernando Valley region by late afternoon Saturday, but the area was still mostly behind last year's rainfall totals, officials said.

As of late afternoon Saturday, downtown Los Angeles measured 0.99 inches of rain since the season began in July, compared with 1.20 inches by this time last year, NWS's Bonnie Bartling said. Normal for downtown is 2.46 inches, she said.

Van Nuys received just under three-fourths an inch of rain on Saturday, giving it just over an inch so far for the season - compared with nearly two inches by last year through November's end, according to the NWS.

While there's a slight chance of showers this morning as the system trails, the storm was expected to subside.

NWS expected more showers by Monday afternoon and again Thursday and Friday.

As rain battered down on the region Saturday, holiday shoppers got stuck in downpours and travelers faced collisions that jammed traffic up and down area freeways.

CHP Officer Spencer Ammons reported 170 traffic accidents in Los Angeles County between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to The Associated Press.

``We've got a lot of hydroplaning,'' a CHP dispatcher in Ventura County said.

Wind advisories were in effect into the evening for the mountains in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and in the Antelope Valley where Palmdale had gusts to nearly 40 mph and trees toppled.

In Palmdale, a 10-year-old girl was in critical condition after being struck in the head by a light pole that was toppled by high winds in the parking lot of a Vons grocery store, a sheriff's sergeant told City News Service.

The girl was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center, where she was in critical condition, the sergeant said.

The weather canceled Metrolink's annual holiday train and toy collection at its Burbank station after officials decided against holding the holiday show in the rain, a spokeswoman said.

``We've got 30,000 lights, furry characters performing on an open stage,'' said Metrolink's Sharon Gavin. The event was rescheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday.

And power was out for about 400 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers in Studio City, in the area between Riverside Drive and Moorpark Street, Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Laurelgrove Avenue, a DWP spokeswoman told City News Service.

From his vantage point at Zuma Beach, lifeguard Mark Temkin watched the blustery day unfold.

``Pretty quiet, pretty stormy,'' is how he described the beachfront scene where small waves drew few surfers. ``Not much to talk about in the surf department.''

Employee Jared Burto at Common Grounds in Northridge said except for during the big downpours, customers have been stopping into the cafe all day.

``It's busy. It's been pretty good all day,'' said Burto, who said customers come for a warm drink and ``just to have a warm place to be.''

Forecasters said today's high was expected to hit the low to mid-60s, but Monday could see more showers.

``Monday, get the umbrellas out,'' Hoffer said.

Monday's highs are also expected to hit the low to mid-60s, with highs in the 60s again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additional showers are expected later in the week.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1) Jenny Figliozzi stays dry while Devon Fontana steers their wagon through the Southland's first big storm of the season.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(2) A tree in the Antelope Valley Mall that was toppled by high winds on Saturday is moved.

(3 -- 5) As the Southland's first big storm of the season rolls in, an SUV driver, above left, navigates the waters at Avenue R and 10th Street East, rescue workers aid a woman injured in a three-car collision on the Foothill Freeway near San Fernando, above right, and high winds blow debris across a Quartz Hill street, below.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

John McCoy/Staff Photographer