A storm that originated in the central Pacific is headed toward the Long Beach area today and will bring average to moderate rainfall, likely from tonight until early Friday, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.

The storm was off the coast of Northern California this morning and was on a track to drop southeastward, said NWS meteorologist Dave Bruno. He said the heaviest rain will remain off the coast and that much heavier rain would fall on the Southland if the storm’s trajectory were 50 miles to the east.

No mudslides or debris flows were expected in burn zones.

As of early this morning, there was a 20 percent chance of showers after midnight, then a forecast of showers Wednesday, Wednesday night, Thursday and Thursday night, and a 70 percent chance of showers after midnight, according to the NWS.

Winds of 20-30 miles per hour with 45 mph gusts were expected in the mountains. In the Santa Clarita Valley, the wind was expected to blow at 15-25 mph with gusts of 40 mph.

The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in L.A. County today and highs of 69 in Downtown L.A., Long Beach and at LAX.

Temperatures will drop by as much as 9 degrees Wednesday, then climb by a few degrees Thursday amid showers.