Storm dumps rain, closes roads, downs trees and halts flights in O.C.
A powerful storm that began pummeling Orange County Friday afternoon resulted in road closures, power outages and canceled flights and caused a tree to fall onto parked cars.
The storm, which forecasters say could be the strongest of the season, could dump up to 3 inches of rain along the coast and 5 inches in the mountains and foothills, according to Derek Schroeter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
Forecasters expect strong winds to last through the evening. Rainfall estimated at about an inch per hour is expected in the next several hours.
If predictions hold true, Orange County cities could see more rain in a single day than they have in the entire month of February in recent years, according to historical data from OC Watersheds.
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning that started at noon Friday and will last until 4 p.m. Saturday. The agency also issued a warning about southerly wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph that are expected to continue through 2 a.m. Saturday.
Large surf with the potential to damage beach structures such as piers will last through Sunday, the weather service said.
Newport Beach officials closed Back Bay Drive between San Joaquin Hills Road and Eastbluff Drive as a precaution Friday afternoon just as the storm was beginning to hit at full strength.
“As soon as it starts to rain, water, mud and rocks run out onto the street,” said George Murdoch, the city’s general manager for utilities. “It’s just a preventative measure, since we know we’re going to get hit.”
City crews responded to the Dover Shores area about 3 p.m. after a large tree fell on Grove Lane.
In Huntington Beach, authorities closed the southbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway at Warner Avenue after the area began flooding. Northbound lanes on the highway remained open.
In Laguna Beach, a strong wind gust caused a eucalyptus tree to fall onto three parked cars at the intersection of El Bosque and Catalina Street at 12:20 p.m., police Capt. Jason Kravetz said. No one was injured.
In Costa Mesa, a fallen tree blocked the intersection of Placentia Avenue and 16th Street. Another tree blocked the westbound lanes on Adams Avenue near Fairview Road, according to city public works officials.
Costa Mesa officials announced they are running low on sandbags for residents to use to prepare for possible flooding.
Six hundred filled bags were being delivered to City Hall on Friday afternoon, and once they are gone, there will be no more deliveries, said city spokesman Tony Dodero.
“We have exhausted all local vendors of prefilled bags,” Dodero said.
The city has distributed more than 15,000 sandbags and roughly 70 tons of sand since early January.
Residents can pick up sandbags at Fire Station No. 4 at 2300 Placentia Ave.
Meanwhile, 27 homes were without power in Huntington Beach on Friday afternoon after a tree fell onto equipment.
More than 500 customers in Laguna Beach and more than 200 in Costa Mesa also were without power as Southern California Edison worked to fix equipment problems, according to the utility.
The storm also affected travelers Friday.
Several airlines canceled flights at John Wayne Airport beginning Friday morning as gusty winds began to sweep through the area.
American and Southwest airlines canceled arriving and departing flights at the airport. Southwest flights were canceled indefinitely beginning at 10 a.m., and American flights were canceled beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting up to 7:30 p.m. because of expected strong winds and heavy rain.
Alaska and United airlines began canceling some flights late in the morning, according to John Wayne Airport spokeswoman Deanne Thompson.
Thompson said airlines typically communicate cancellations to their passengers, and many travelers check their flight status before they head to the airport, so few people usually are taken by surprise. John Wayne Airport is providing updates through its website and social media accounts.
Staff writers Luke Money and Bryce Alderton contributed to this report.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
