New Storm With 50-M.P.H. Winds on Way

The second of two chilly storm fronts, carrying with it the possibility of further flooding in Laguna Beach, was to arrive late Thursday packing fierce, 50-m.p.h. gusts.

Residents were warned to brace for the second punch, which was expected to dump as much as half an inch of rain, more mountain snow, high winds and high tides.

“Another thunderstorm is definitely possible for Orange County early (this) morning,” said James McCutcheon, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which forecasts weather for The Times. “Only, (today’s) system will be colder and have more unstable air that can cause high winds.”

The good news, McCutcheon said, is that residents can expect clear skies and warmer temperatures on Saturday.

McCutcheon said the chance of rain is 50% today, with a 30% chance of showers tonight. Lows will be in the mid-40s to low 50s, he said.

In Laguna Beach, scorched hillsides did little to stop 0.6 of an inch of rain from flooding portions of the city, especially in the small community of Canyon Acres.

El Toro Marine Corps Air Station reported nearly a third of an inch of rainfall, Anaheim and Newport Beach 0.4 of an inch and Santa Ana 0.21.

Temperatures were much cooler Thursday. Santa Ana had a high of 70 degrees, which was the warmest in the county. Newport Beach had a high of 63 and Anaheim’s was 64.

The second low-pressure system was expected to carry a quarter- to a half-inch inch of rain, and bring unstable air over Orange County, McCutcheon said.

“It looks to be about the same type of scenario as Thursday,” McCutcheon said.

The unstable air could also produce thunderstorms and a second day of high winds today. McCutcheon said he could not verify that a tornado had touched down in Portola Hills on Thursday although he “did see the possibility of pretty strong wind gusts up to 50 m.p.h.”

Funnel-like winds reported in Portola Hills about 9:30 a.m. were responsible for overturning a 22-foot construction trailer, injuring a worker inside, said an Orange County Fire Department spokesman.

The man inside the trailer, Ken Thompson, 37, suffered a concussion. Trauma surgeon Dr. Kenneth Kushner said Thompson was in stable condition at the Mission Regional Hospital Medical Center from the concussion, cuts, bruises and a sprained ankle.

Weather forecasters did not consider the two-day storm “major,” but it is the first heavy rainfall of the season that began July 1.

The first measurable rainfall occurred Oct. 11, when 0.05 of an inch of rain was reported. Five days later on Oct. 16, a light rain sprayed moisture on most of the county with about 0.10 of an inch.

Last month’s early rainfall troubled some officials in Anaheim and San Clemente, which were plagued with rain-related landslides in the past year.

A 30-day forecast issued mid-October by WeatherData predicted that California will experience above-normal precipitation and cooler temperatures.

“That extended forecast still holds true for California,” McCutcheon said on Thursday.

High winds, rough seas and astronomical high tides in the mornings kept most residents away from county beaches, lifeguards said.

San Clemente Marine Safety Lt. Bill Humphreys said he saw a few surfers tackling stormy conditions, chilly 61-degree water and three- to five-foot surf near the city pier.

“They were from a local surf class at San Clemente High School,” Humphreys said.

By Thursday afternoon, however, 15- to 20-m.p.h. winds were pumping from the west, churning the ocean surface and only the most “die-hard fishermen were on the pier,” he said.

Lifeguards saw quite a bit of runoff going into the ocean from rivers, streams and creeks, but cited no problems.

Elsewhere, astronomical high tides are predicted for the next few days, with morning high tides near seven feet today through Monday.

First Rain

The first rain of the season dropped less than half an inch here. Rainfall for the season (July 1-Nov. 11) lags behind last year’s total:

Thursday Storm Irvine Ranch: .55 Anaheim: .44 Newport Beach: .40 El Toro: .33 Santa Ana: .21

Seasonal Total (measured in Santa Ana) 1993 season to date: .31 inches Last year to date: .92 inches Normal rainfall to date: .87 inches

Source: WeatherData Inc.