O.C. Rainfall Goes Over an Inch in Some Areas

Orange County soaked up more than an inch of rain in some areas, refreshing thirsty landscapes and lawns, but weary local traffic authorities were celebrating forecasts that call for the return of sunshine today.

WeatherData meteorologist Steve Burback said the mountain regions of the state, where more than 2 inches of rain fell in some areas, were the big winners. But some cities in Orange County made their own small dents in Southern California’s drought.

Huntington Beach reported the largest rainfall amount with 1.25 inches Thursday and Friday, while San Juan Capistrano posted a reading of 1.03 inches, according to WeatherData, which provides weather information to The Times.

The rain was expected to end in the county by Friday night, followed by patchy fog and then mostly sunny skies this afternoon, with highs in the lower 60s.

Fog was expected to return to the area tonight, with temperatures dipping into the high 40s. More sunshine was predicted for Sunday, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s.

The only unwelcome reaction to the area’s first significant rainfall in eight months came from local law enforcement officials who were still recovering from Thursday’s frantic pace in which officers sped from one traffic mishap to another on rain-slick streets and freeways.

Linda Burrus of the California Highway Patrol in Santa Ana said that officers received nearly 100 accident calls on the freeways Thursday and could barely keep up. But by Friday morning, when the rain slowed to a drizzle, officers were handling “only a few more than normal.”

In the South County, CHP spokesman Ken Dailey said most of the 17 calls received Thursday were of the “fender-bender” variety, with about 12 minor injuries.

No major traffic problems were reported during Friday morning’s misty commute, leaving authorities surprised that more serious incidents did not occur.

“I was out last night (Thursday), and there were people accelerating through yellow lights!” Dailey noted.