The Harbor Column:

I am predicting great weather for today and this weekend that will complement the International Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday.

You can expect daytime temperatures reaching the upper 70s with an afternoon breeze around 10 knots.

The ocean will be calm like a lake with swells from the west at 2 feet, and the sea buoys ( www.lajollasurf.org/buoylist.html) are reporting 70-degree sea surface temperatures.

Just remember to keep an eye to the north at Point Conception with swells about 8 feet in height, and watch for early morning and late evening fog.

However, on Saturday, thousands of volunteers scour the Orange County beaches and ocean inlets during Coastal Cleanup Day.

The reports show that 6.8 million pounds of debris were collected last year by almost 400,000 volunteers from around the world.

Now the 25th year, there will be organized clean-up efforts at almost every beach, and Big and Little Corona beaches are listed as well as a group meeting at the Newport Pier. You can find out more by calling (949) 644-3036 or [email protected].us. Let’s not forget the upper Newport Bay has two programs that you can join in.

The Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve at the Interpretive Center can be contacted at (949) 923-2275 or [email protected], and the Back Bay Science Center on Shellmaker can be contacted at (949) 640-9956 or [email protected].

These are great family activities where everyone can make a difference, and I remember the years of volunteering annually in Newport’s clean harbor days.

Tip of the week is the 31st annual Lido Yacht Expo opens its gangways Thursday at Lido Marina Village in Newport Harbor.

This major big boat show will have more than 250 yachts with most in the water secured to the show’s temporary docks connected to the Village’s berths. As always, Chandler Bell and I will be broadcast live from the show from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday on the brick roadway across from Electra Cruises offices. You can find out more by going to LidoYachtExpo.com.

Remember Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show has moved to CRNTalk.com, which is syndicated radio network broadcasting coast to coast. We still air on CRN 1 channel, and to find out how to hear the show go to www.CRNTalk.com and click on Affiliates on the left menu or click on Listen Live for the Internet feed.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com .