Mudslides, Flooding--and More Rain Is on the Way

Rain continued to drench Orange County for a third day Thursday, causing some flooding, triggering mudslides and stranding about a dozen people in their cabins in San Juan Hot Springs.

U.S. Forest Service dispatcher Edward McChesney said the summer homes were isolated because of high water in nearby San Juan Creek. None of the 12 people were hurt.

Although some rain may fall today, brace yourself for a respite before the next storm hits on Saturday. WeatherData meteorologist Steve Burback said the new storm from the Gulf of Alaska is expected to bring some heavy downpours. There is a 30% chance of morning showers today with partly cloudy skies to follow.

The storms that have buffeted the area over the last three days were significantly milder than some public officials originally anticipated.

On Thursday, flooding closed one lane of Laguna Canyon Road, between the San Diego Freeway and El Toro Road in Laguna Beach, said Steve Saville, a Caltrans spokesman in Orange County. Traffic was only open to northbound traffic in the morning, but was switched for southbound commuters at 3 p.m.

Rock and mudslides in Brea closed Carbon Canyon Road, from Olinda Drive to Valencia Avenue, in both directions Thursday, the California Highway Patrol said. Officials did not know when the road would be reopened and suggested alternate roads.

In Huntington Beach, Pacific Coast Highway from Golden West Street to Warner Avenue closed at 2 p.m. Thursday due to flooding. A CHP spokesperson said late Thursday they were unsure when it would reopen and suggested motorists avoid it this morning.

Northbound Santa Ana Freeway motorists encountered mud and rain north of Red Hill Avenue in Tustin, Saville said. But all lanes remained open.

Aside from cleaning up flood areas, Saville said work crews have been making sure all drainage systems are functioning.

The Ortega Highway, closed due to mudslides Wednesday evening, was reopened early Thursday morning, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies reported.

Sixty-five accidents had occurred on Orange County freeways since 6 a.m. Thursday, a CHP spokesman said.

According to WeatherData, this year’s total rainfall of 8.56 inches has nearly doubled the county average of 4.3 inches. San Juan Capistrano reported 2.3 inches of rain in a 24-hour period ending 4 p.m. Thursday.

“Our systems were very well prepared,” said Bill Reiter, a public works operations manager who heads the county’s storm center. “We don’t have any major problems at all.”

While significant amounts of rain were reported, Reiter said the storm was not as fierce as originally predicted. He also said the rain fell over a longer period of time, making the storm easier to deal with. Despite reporting few problems, Reiter said he was expecting periods of rain through the weekend and would keep his staff on alert.

Betty Schrowe, who lives in Silverado Canyon near Silverado Creek, said rain on Thursday loosened some of the rocks and debris at the bottom of the creek.

“You can hear the boulders coming down the creek,” she said. “It sounds like a bowling alley only a lot louder. It’s an exciting thing.”

Times staff writer Greg Hernandez contributed to this report.