Rainstorms blanket Inland Empire, causing traffic disruptions, rock slide

RIVERSIDE  - Heavy rains have developed over the Inland Empire with the arrival of a cold storm that originated from the west coast of Canada, the first of two systems that will canvass the area today and Christmas Day, according to forecasters. "The rainfall will become widespread overnight through Friday morning, including across the deserts,'' according to a National Weather Service statement. ``Total rainfall amounts were increased, with 2 to 3 inches expected along the coast and valleys, 3 to 6 inches for the mountains and 1 to 2 inches in the deserts.'' For most of western Riverside County, a Flash Flood Watch was in effect through noon Friday, with predictions of "hourly rainfall amounts up to .6 inches,'' the NWS said. The inclement conditions led to a rash of accidents on inla