Rain Causes Mudslides on Ortega Highway

Tons of mud loosened by slid early Thursday morning onto Ortega Highway, which was expected to , authorities said.

According to City News Service, the mudslide happened at about 1:30 a.m. near mile marker 4, blocking the highway and drawing Caltrans cleanup crews.

Wednesday night's storm brought .90 inches of rain to San Juan Capistrano, the National Weather Service reports. Rainfall totals in other areas of Orange County range from half an inch to three-quarters of an inch.

More fast-moving storms are headed to Southern California, with rain likely Thursday night and into Friday, and Saturday night into early Sunday, according to the Weather Service.

Because of the recent mudslide on Ortega and the collapse during Sunday's heavy rain storm of part of the road's shoulder several miles to the east, the highway was closed in both directions today from Nichols Institute Road to the Riverside County line. The highway was expected to be fully reopened by Monday morning, City News Service reports.