It’s Beginning to Look (and Feel) a Lot Like Winter

• Storm Troika Soaks Community with Minimal Amount of Flooding and Related Damage

BY ANNE SOBLE

The meteorologists were right on with their forecasting of three storms lined up in a row and bent on bringing Malibu its first real soaking of the season. The experts are still debating how many and how strong future storms are going to be, but for now the local Smokey the Bear wildfire danger signs are comfortably settled into the “low” notch.

Malibu rain gauges registered from three to seven inches of cold downpour along the coast from east to west. At their peak, the storms sent small rockfalls down canyon walls and catapulted tree limbs atop shifting mounds of wind-strewn debris.

Several traffic accidents may have been exacerbated by slick roads, but the storms were not designated as the primary cause for any serious mishaps or injuries.

When the sun appeared between downpours, locals dug out their ice skates (or leased them) and partook of a city-sponsored outdoor activity usually not found within Malibu’s boundaries.

Skates weren’t the only items pulled out of storage. Malibuites unpacked sweaters, scarves, gloves and other cold weather gear so they could thumb their noses at the falling thermometer.