Rain takes a break; high surf is expected to ebb in O.C.
Kirk Manclark walks through a pile of debris near the mouth of the Santa Ana River in Newport Beach on Thursday.
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Sunshine finally replaced storm clouds in Orange County on Thursday, and officials forecast more sun Friday, though a high-surf advisory will remain in effect.
The National Weather Service had issued a flash-flood notice for the county in anticipation of heavy rainfall and possible thunderstorms Thursday. However, little or no rain was seen by mid-afternoon, and officials called off the notice.
Forecasters also issued a high-surf warning for waves up to 10 feet tall Thursday, mostly north of Newport Beach. The surf is expected to subside to 4 to 7 feet by late Friday, when there will be a 20% chance of rain, the weather service said. Showers are considered likely Saturday.
High tide is forecast to be around 7 feet at about 7:30 a.m. Friday.
El Niño-fueled storms dumped about 2 1/4 inches of rain on Costa Mesa and Irvine and nearly 1 3/4 inches in Newport Beach between Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, according to measurements taken by Orange County Public Works. Laguna Beach received 1.97 inches and Huntington Beach got 1.85, the department said.
The rainfall contributed to crashes and traffic slowdowns throughout the county, but no significant damage or injuries were reported, authorities said.
On Laguna Beach’s shoreline, erosion left 3- to 4-foot gaps between the end of staircases and the sand. “The sand leaves real quick,” said Laguna Beach Marine Safety Capt. Tom Trager. “The surf was big.”
The storms are the year’s first attributed to the effects of El Niño, a warming of the equatorial waters of the Pacific that can result in heavy rain in California. Such storms are expected to peak in January, February and March.
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Where to find sandbags to protect against flooding
Newport Beach: Residents may pick up 10 empty sandbags at no cost at the city corporation yard, 592 Superior Ave. Proof of Newport Beach residency is needed to obtain the bags, which can be filled with beach sand.
Costa Mesa: Each resident maypick up 15 free sandbags at Fire Station 4, 2300 Placentia Ave., as well as at the City Hall parking lot, 77 Fair Drive, and the Donald Dungan Library parking lot, 1855 Park Ave.
Irvine: Residents can pick up 10 free filled sandbags at the city’s operations support facility, 6427 Oak Canyon Road. The Orange County Fire Authority also has sand and bags available at Station 36, 301 E. Yale Loop, and Station 47 at 47 Fossil.
Laguna Beach: Residents and business owners can pick up 10 free filled sandbags at the Act V parking lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road, and the Aliso Beach Park inland parking lot at 31118 S. Coast Hwy. Free unfilled sandbags also are available at four fire stations: 501 Forest Ave., 2900 Alta Laguna Blvd., 285 Agate St. and 34646 Second Ave.
Huntington Beach: Residents who show identification and a current utility bill can get up to 20 free sandbags per household. The bags can be picked up between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the city corporate yard, 17371 Gothard St. Bags also are available at the Edison Community Center, 21377 Magnolia St., and the Warner fire station, 3831 Warner Ave.
Times Community News staff writer Bryce Alderton contributed to this report.
