Newport-Mesa’s weather is likely to continue cooking

Dry heat returned to Newport-Mesa Wednesday, as Santa Ana winds swept

through inland Orange County, pushing temperatures near beach

communities into the 90s.

Wind gusts peaked at 25 mph at John Wayne Airport, but the

blustery Santa Anas kept their distance from the beaches, said

National Weather Service forecaster Stan Wasowski.

A red-flag warning of high fire danger plagued the mountains and

canyons, but did not affect any areas in Orange County, Wasowski

said.

The heat may have been uncomfortable, but for one lucky group of

students, it made for perfect kayaking weather.

Fifty kids from Newport Beach’s Ensign Intermediate spent

Wednesday afternoon kayaking in the Back Bay to kick off the city’s

Afternoons on the Bay program.

“It’s a beautiful day -- you couldn’t ask for a better day for

weather,” said Joe Fuschetti, a recreation specialist with the city.

The program, designed to give kids an introduction to kayaking,

will be open to all junior high students at Ensign, Fuschetti said.

The winds are expected to taper off by today, Wasowski said.

Temperatures will fall slightly, but warm weather will likely

continue, he said.