Fiery Sunset In Laguna Beach, Heralds Of Rain To Come

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — One of Patch's favorite coastal photographers, Angela Madsen of Rancho Santa Margarita sent in this gorgeous Laguna Beach sunset picture this week. It was a red letter day and an ideal moment to capture the sun as it sank into the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. The clouds, scattered across the sky, were just one of the tells of the storm headed our direction, according to the National Weather Service.

Southland temperatures will dip sharply Tuesday as a storm out of the Pacific Northwest bears down on the region, poised to unleash rainfall as early as Tuesday evening, forecasters said.
National Weather Service forecasters said they expect brief, heavy downpours late Tuesday evening into Wednesday, along with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Between a quarter-inch and three quarters of an inch of rain are expected in Orange, LA and Riverside Counties as a result of the weather event.

The storm will also trigger snowfall, with six inches expected in the San Gabriel Mountains above 5,500 feet, causing roads to become dangerously slick and threatening some flooding, which could prompt road closures, forecasters said, adding that the issuance of a winter storm advisory is a distinct possibility.

"A low-pressure trough approaching the California coast will bring significantly cooler conditions, and periods of rain as well as mountain snow Wednesday and Thursday," according to a National Weather Service statement. "Drier and warmer conditions will return going into the weekend."

As of Tuesday morning, forecasters do not expect the Southland's first rain of the season to trigger mud slides or debris flows in Southern California areas previously denuded by wildfire, unless a thunderstorm produces an inordinate volume of rain, said Oxnard-based NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson.

"We don't yet see any significant issues," he said, adding that the lion's share of the storm system would strike San Diego County.

The offshore flow that kept the region warm Monday began to weaken Monday night, giving way to an onshore flow that will generate "a significant cooling trend" Tuesday, with high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees cooler than Monday across coastal and valley areas.

Going into effect Tuesday evening is a high surf advisory scheduled to be in force from 9 p.m. until noon Thursday. The surf will build to between 4 and 7 feet Tuesday evening, continuing through Thursday morning.

"There is an increased risk for ocean drowning," warned an NWS statement. "Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks and capsize small boats near shore.

"...Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."

The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in Orange County Tuesday, along with temperatures of 64 on Santiago Peak; 70 in San Clemente; 71 in Laguna Beach; 72 in Newport Beach and on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 76 in Fremont Canyon; 77 in Yorba Linda, Fullerton and Trabuco Canyon; 78 in Irvine and Mission Viejo; and 79 in Anaheim. Amid showers, Wednesday's highs will be up to 18 degrees cooler.

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