Storm-Wary Laguna Beach Braces for More Rainfall

Laguna Beach and its disaster-weary residents are bracing for a new round of winter storms expected to hit the Orange County coastline by Sunday or Monday.

The new forecasts leave little time for preparations, however, as a flurry of rainstorms drenched the county late Thursday and Friday, largely sparing the South County hillsides charred in last fall’s devastating fires.

Laguna Beach Fire Chief Richard Dewberry said residents were already stacking sandbags to block possible mudslides and soil erosion that may threaten area homes and shops.

“We already have heavy equipment staged at key areas in the city where small tractors, loaders, and backhoes are available to help keep drains clear,” Dewberry said.

The sky remained dark and threatening Friday, even after much of the county had been soaked with about two-thirds of an inch of rain. Between 4 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday, Laguna Beach had 0.42 inches of rain, the least amount recorded in the county.

“The general report we have from the command post is that everything’s fared pretty well,” said Scott Jennie, a Laguna Beach firefighter.

The California Highway Patrol reported no rain-related accidents on Friday. However, a landslide caused temporary closure of Ortega Highway a mile south of the Riverside County line Friday afternoon.

Orange County health officials warned people not to swim in the ocean near the mouths of rivers, creeks and storm drains.

Higher levels of bacteria usually are present after a storm because of the runoff of animal wastes, fertilizers and road oils.

Across the county, rainfall for the season had reached only one-fourth of last year’s.

Santa Ana received 0.67 inches of rain by 4 p.m. Friday, bringing its season total to 3.88 inches. The city’s total to date last season was 17.2 inches.

The threatening weather was not expected to alter the plans of weekend festival organizers.

Today’s parade celebrating Black History Month is expected to go on in Santa Ana rain or shine. Similarly, festivals celebrating Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, have not been canceled.

In mountain communities, the precipitation took the form of powdery snow.

Officials said the 13 inches that fell in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains was a gratifying addition to the snowpack that contributes to the area’s household water supply.

The snow also delighted ski resort operators who had been relying on man-made snow.

“It’s absolutely incredible. It’s all soft and fluffy,” said Libby Coleman, a spokeswoman at Big Bear’s Bear Mountain Ski Resort. “This is what we’ve needed.”

Bruce Thoren, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., said there is a chance of more rain in Orange County on Sunday, with rain likely on Monday that could continue into Tuesday.

“But there might be high pressure building in behind that,” he said, “with more dry weather for the rest of the week.”

Times Staff Writer Kevin Johnson contributed to this report.

Rain Shortfall

Less than an inch of rain fell in Orange County Friday, adding little to a total already more than four inches shy of the norm. Friday’s rain, from midnight to 4 p.m.

City Inches Santa Ana 0.94 Irvine 0.80 Anaheim 0.71 Newport Beach 0.65 Lake Forest 0.47 Dana Point 0.42 Laguna Beach 0.42

YEAR TO DATE

Santa Ana readings, as of 4 p.m. Friday, for rain season beginning July 1.

Period Inches Season 2.91 Last year 16.89 Normal 7.07

Source: WeatherData Inc.