Storm blows through

June Casagrande

Showers are expected to continue through this afternoon, but the

worst of the storm is likely over, a spokesman for the National

Weather Service said.

“By Tuesday night, it will be clear, and after that, we can expect

blue skies for days,” said Stan Wasowski, a meteorologist for the

National Weather Service.

Once the rain stops, there will be some clouds tonight and

possible morning fog on Wednesday. Winds will persist with surf from

about 3 to 5 feet. The total rainfall expected by the end of today’s

showers is about 3/4 to 1 inch, though a flash flood watch will be

in effect until about 6 p.m. today.

The cooler air will stick around, though, with temperatures about

two degrees lower than before the storm hit. Tonight’s temperatures

will fall to between 42 and 48 degrees. Wednesday should see highs of

between 56 and 62, with lows dipping back into the 40s.

The Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol was bracing for the storm on Monday

night by going to full staffing. Two patrol boats and two fire boats

were on duty to assist vessels in the harbor that succumbed to the

storm.

“Every time the weather gets like this, we’re almost sure to have

an incident or two,” said Sgt. Karl Von Voigt of the Sheriff’s Harbor

Patrol.

When winds are heavy, he said, it’s common for a couple of boats

to break loose. In those cases, Harbor Patrol staff secure stray

boats.

When there’s rain, it’s common for one or two smaller boats with

weak bilge pumps to begin to fill up with water. In those cases,

workers use pumps on the Harbor Patrol boats to pump out the water,

sometimes saving smaller boats from sinking.

“When we have a storm with high winds, we’ll average at least a

couple boats breaking loose or requiring some types of assistance,”

Von Voigt said.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].