COUNTYWIDE : Dense Fog Causes Only Few Problems

Dense early morning fog blanketed parts of the Orange County coastline Wednesday, but officials reported few problems on streets and freeways or at John Wayne Airport.

Visibility in some parts of North County were reported as low as one-quarter mile.

Weather forecasters predict higher clouds today and no significant fog.

Two commuter planes were delayed from takeoff at the airport for about five minutes each Wednesday morning. Otherwise, flights left on schedule.

“Our ceilings are high enough that we haven’t had any problems,” said Jan Mittermeier, assistant airport manager. “It’s quite a ways up there.”

At the police heliport in Huntington Beach, a low fog prevented the police chopper from operating in the morning, said Sgt. Bill Van Cleve.

“They were just waiting to fly,” he said.

Still, the fog failed to hinder freeway traffic.

“Even though visibility was bad it still was one-quarter to one-half a mile,” said Lyle Whitten, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol in Westminster.

While there are signs that the fog might signal major change in the weather pattern, meteorologist Rick Dittmann doubted whether this would mean a break in a lingering high pressure area over Southern California that has brought mild weather, offshore winds and scant precipitation.

“All of that remains to be seen,” said Dittmann, who works for WeatherData. “It’s just a wait-and-see attitude.”

The forecast calls for a slight chance of scattered drizzle or showers, highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s, with winds south to southwest at about 15 m.p.h. Skies will be partly cloudy to cloudy.

“We’re looking at light showers at best,” Dittmann said. “It’s not going to be a rainmaker.”

Expect partial clearing on Friday, highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s, winds still about 15 m.p.h.

Dittmann said that the change in the weather has made it impossible to give a prediction of the weather through New Year’s Day.