Storm Dampens County, but Dry Weekend Ahead

The storm system that had been expected earlier this week finally dampened Orange County on Thursday night, but it is expected to move on today, leaving a dry weekend, meteorologists said.

Orange County can expect anywhere from half an inch to two inches of rain with possible thunderstorms before this afternoon, said Steve Burback, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

Thursday night’s Pacific storm was “the one we’ve been blabbing about for the past three days,� said Marty Chipman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.

But the storm lost some of its oomph before reaching the coast and was not expected to be as strong as the intense showers that battered the Southland last weekend and forced road closures.

Burback said the weekend should be mostly sunny with high temperatures in the 60s.

One westbound lane of Laguna Canyon Road was opened from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, police said. California Department of Transportation officials said they would decide about 5:30 a.m. today whether to open the road for this morning’s commute.

In Los Angeles County, the Pacific storm brought thundershowers to the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and triggered rain in the nearby mountains, the National Weather Service reported.