Weather forecasters got it right when they predicted an El Nino for this winter – as the region is already well ahead of the normal rainfall totals as well as surpassing the total amount received all of last winter.

Pounding rain and high winds pelted Escalon and the surrounding area late Monday on in to Tuesday, and weather watchers had reported over an inch and a half of rain in the area on Monday, Jan. 18 and over an inch and a quarter more accumulating by noontime Tuesday.

The National Weather Service had issued a Flood and Wind Advisory for the region, calling for the possibility of urban and small stream flooding in areas including San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Calaveras counties, as well as the potential for mud and rockslides in the foothills. Authorities were also bracing for possible power outages.

Local police and fire officials did not report any significant issues due to the rainfall, though motorists were advised to slow down during the morning commute on Tuesday because of heavy rain and poor visibility.

A couple of areas of minor street flooding were indicated in the city but not enough to call out Public Works or the fire department as of presstime on Tuesday afternoon.

Forecasters said long range forecasts indicated a break from the series of storms on Wednesday but a return to the wet weather pattern starting on Thursday, with a 60 percent chance of heavy rain on Friday and 90 percent on Saturday. Predictions are for up to another inch of rain in the coming series of storms.