As rain poured on the Santa Clarita Valley Wednesday, two big rig crashes led to major freeway blockages and delayed traffic in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, officials said.

Meanwhile, weather experts forecast rain should be cleared and temperatures up Thursday, lasting into the weekend.

A crash of a tractor carrying two trailers Wednesday morning on Interstate 5 just south of the Newhall area resulted in a a closure of all lanes for half an hour and slowed traffic for hours afterward, a CHP report said.

Just after 5 a.m., a three-axle tractor truck with two trailers traveling in the rain on southbound I-5 near Gavin Canyon made an abrupt turning movement, causing its trailers to collide into each other and into its tractor, the report said.

The truck, which did not hit any other vehicles, blocked all four lanes and the freeway's left shoulder, the report said.

The vehicle could not be moved because of a broken driveshaft and two broken wheels, but officers were able to clear a narrow path on the right shoulder for vehicles to pass through one by one at about 5:35 a.m., according to the report.

All other southbound traffic was diverted off of the freeway at Calgrove Boulevard and onto The Old Road. All southbound lanes were re-opened at about 7:10 a.m., the report said.

A couple of hours a later, a second crash involving an oil spill blocked traffic on the northbound 405 freeway in Mission Hills and affected those commuting into the Santa Clarita Valley, officials said.

At about 10:20 a.m., officers closed nearly all lanes of the 405 except for the carpool lane just south of Rinaldi Street after a big rig jacknifed and spilled about 40 gallons of diesel fuel that covered the first, second and third lanes, Lund said.

The lanes were re-opened at about 12:07 p.m., he added.

CHP and other officials said they also received numerous calls about minor accidents throughout the day.

"Drivers just don't slow down," Lund said.

Sheriff's deputies advised drivers to take extra precautions when traveling in rainy conditions.

"When it's the first rain of the season, it generally washes away oil and slick grease that is on the asphalt and streets," said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Robert Lewis. "If people don't drive slower than they usually drive...we have accidents that occur."

Santa Clarita Valley residents can expect the rain to end Thursday as temperatures heat up, and anticipate weak Santa Ana winds Friday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Gomberg.

Weather experts cancelled flash flood watches for burn areas affected by the Station Fire Wednesday at 2 a.m., while they cancelled high-wind advisories for the Santa Clarita Valley at noon, Gomberg said.

Firefighters did not respond to any mudslides Tuesday night or Wednesday in the SCV, Los Angeles County Fire officials said.

"Everything's just kind of quieting down for the tail end of the storms," he said.

Rainfall amounts varied around the valley, with 1.9 inches of rain falling in Newhall by noon Wednesday and half an inch falling in Saugus by 5 p.m., weather officials said.

Mountain areas saw about 3 inches of rain by noon, Gomberg said.

Temperatures will reach the mid-to-high 80s Thursday, which should last through Saturday before temperatures drop again, Gomberg said. Weak northeast Santa Ana winds traveling about 10 to 20 mph are also expected Friday, which should help keep temperatures warm, he added.

"When (wind) goes (in) more of a north or northeast direction," he said, "that tends to warm it up and dry things out."