Humidity Makes Area Feel Like Miami Beach : Weather: Scattered rain dampens most of the county but brings little relief. Pools, creeks and the ocean lure residents.

Just how hot and muggy was it Wednesday?

The thermometer hit the mid-80s throughout the county, but it was the moisture-laden air that made it miserable.

“The humidity was very much like Miami Beach,” said Bob Grebe, a forecaster for the National Weather Service. The relative humidity in Ventura climbed as high as 87%, resulting in air that was sultry and “definitely uncomfortable.”

The steamy weather drove Kim Rowe, her son and four friends to the cool, clear waters of Matilija Creek above Ojai on Wednesday. The Camarillo group juggled two lawn chairs, a boombox, beach balls and coolers as they climbed down steep, rocky banks to the creek.

“We’re going to jump off the rocks,” said Erik Rowe, 12, pointing to a still pool of water beneath a boulder.

Around a bend in the creek, another family with two small children had jumped in fully clothed to escape the heat in Ojai, where they live.

“The water is good, not cold,” said a woman who identified herself as Maria.

Rain dampened most of the county off and on, but the light showers resulted in little measurable precipitation, Grebe said.

The humid weather is expected to continue through today and into Friday. Temperatures today should hit the low-70s along the beaches and the mid-80s inland, with a 10% chance of rain. By the weekend, cooler and drier weather should arrive.

The humidity is an outgrowth of Hurricane Darby, a tropical storm that has petered out as it moves west-northwest away from Baja California.

The storm also is responsible for higher than normal surf.

“It’s pretty big, but it’s calmed down a little,” said Lauren Brown, a lifeguard at San Buenaventura State Beach. She estimated the surf at 2 to 4 feet with occasional 6-foot waves.

Lifeguards there had made five rescues at the beach by midafternoon, she said. Because of the southerly current, surfers and swimmers were getting swept toward the jetty and pier.

The muggy weather also drove families to pools, despite the rain. At Conejo Recreation and Park District’s Thousand Oaks pool, swimming lessons went on throughout the morning sprinkles.

“We checked for lightning,” said pool manager Craig Butler. “And a couple of times the sky opened up and came down.” None of it seemed to bother the swimmers.

Because of the heat, the lifeguards were advised to cool off in the water on their breaks, he said.

In Ventura, more people than usual were heading for the city’s parks in the early evening, said Debbie Solomon, recreation supervisor for the city.

“They’re just trying to catch a breeze,” she said.