Countywide : Heat Wave Continues to Lose Its Steam

Temperatures in the county continued to inch downward Wednesday, with indications that the heat wave may continue ebbing into the weekend.

“You can expect temperatures to be close to normal over the next couple of days, not nearly as warm as it’s been in the last few days,” said meteorologist Dean Jones of WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times.

High temperatures in the county Wednesday were equal to or slightly lower than Tuesday’s, extending the cooling pattern. Anaheim recorded an 85, Santa Ana an 88, Fullerton 87, Lake Forest 90, Irvine 93, Newport Beach 75, Laguna Beach 83 and Dana Point 86.

The forecast for today calls for low clouds and patchy early morning fog. By afternoon it should be mostly sunny, with highs ranging from the 70s along the coast to the low 90s inland.

Jones credited the cooling trend to the easterly movement of a high-pressure system to the southern Rockies.

“Because it’s moved farther east, we’re back into the normal summertime temperature regime for Southern California,” he said.

Marginal Cooling High temperatures were still in evidence Wednesday, leaving the county only somewhat cooler than Tuesday. Some selected readings: Anaheim: 85 degrees Santa Ana: 88 degrees Newport Beach: 75 degrees Lake Forest: 90 degrees Irvine: 93 degrees Laguna Beach: 83 degrees Dana Point: 86 degrees Source: WeatherData