Southern California is about to get its first significant rainfall in months, bringing desperately needed relief after dry conditions and hazardous winds fueled a series of wildfires in January. The rain could start as early as Saturday afternoon and last through Monday night with the heaviest rain coming on Sunday,

If the rain falls at a slow, steady pace that can be absorbed by burn-scarred ground, the showers will be helpful. But brief blasts of rain could cause flash flooding