SOAKED!

Stefanie Frith

More rain. The National Weather Service says it’s as simple as that.

The storm system hovering over Southern California is expected to

continue until Thursday, with the potential for hail, funnel clouds and

water spouts, said Don Whitlow, meteorologist for the National Weather

Service. Thursday and Friday should be partly cloudy, with rain expected

again for next weekend.

“It’s [the rain] never going to stop,� Whitlow said. “This is typical

wintertime weather, and it will probably begin to taper off around the

end of March, although the rain may go through the beginning of April and

stay awhile.�

The heavy rains over the weekend didn’t stop people from bike riding

and jogging through TeWinkle Memorial Park in Costa Mesa and the on the

paths in Upper Newport Bay.

Even the Malibu Cat Show and Family Expo at the Orange County

Fairgrounds were full of families in slickers and toting umbrellas.

Brenda Pena, 16, of Santa Ana, who was directing traffic Saturday and

Sunday for the fairgrounds events, said people were stopping to tell her

they were sorry she had to stand outside in the rain.

“Saturday wasn’t as bad as today [Sunday],� she said, dressed in a

canary yellow slicker and leaning over a stop sign. “Last night, I went

home and had a hot shower and my dad made me hot chocolate. I just hope

the rain stops for a little while today.�

Shivering in line at the concession stand at the cat show Sunday,

Thora Hart said she must have been insane to decide to exhibit her two

cats.

“I can’t believe that I got in the car this morning and drove from

Aguadulce,� she said, adding that she had already bought three cups of

coffee to keep warm. “When I got home last night, it was snowing. But my

cats were prepared. They are British shorthairs and they love the rain

and snow -- more than I do, I can say that.�

Kellie Woodford of Lake Forest, who attended the family expo with her

three children, ages 18 months, 6 and 7, said the rain doesn’t bother

her.

“I actually really like the rain,� she said. “I don’t really mind

packing up my kids and taking them somewhere [in the rain]. Of course, I

would rather be at home with a cup of chocolate instead.�

Meanwhile, 8-year-old Jeffrey Carroll from Chino Hills stomped and

played in the puddles, waiting for his family to return from the cat

show.

“I like getting my shoes and socks wet,� he said, kicking up some

water as if to prove his point. “It feels good.�

Despite the virtually non-stop rain this weekend, Newport Beach and

Costa Mesa police were surprised that there was nothing more than minor

accidents -- not even major flooding -- reported this weekend. As of late

Sunday afternoon, forecasters said more than a half-inch of rain fell in

the area since Saturday morning.