Storm

Lauren Vane On Wednesday morning, Laguna Beach residents finally awoke to sunny skies. As residents wring out the water, the city looks forward to what the National Weather Service predicts will be a dry week. Nearly six inches of rain fell in Laguna Beach during the brunt of the storm from Friday to Tuesday, said Gregg Barton of the city's water quality division. "That's a lot of water and I hope that's it," Barton said. City officials said that Laguna weathered the storm without any major problems.

Laguna Beach breezed through a strong storm this week with little damage and no injuries. "We are really lucky compared to some inland cities," fire department aid Carrie Joyce said. "The biggest problem we had was getting sandbags out to people." The storm dropped 1.45 inches of rain between Monday and 7 a.m. Thursday, measured at City Hall. "Public works received no reports of major damage except for a hole poked in a roof on Broadway by a eucalyptus branch," Public Works Director Steve May said.

A powerful, slow-moving storm system pounded Laguna Beach and the surrounding area with rain, thunder and lightning early in the week. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the city, and 1.6 inches of rain was reported at City Hall in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, according to news accounts. The lightning was most intense early Tuesday morning, but there were no problems reported to Laguna Beach Police as a result of the storm, according to Sgt. Louise Callus. The National Weather Service issued a warning of very strong currents, possibly severe rip currents and dangerous swimming conditions along the Orange County coast on Friday.

Barbara Diamond Mother Nature wrung out the skies Monday night and let it pour Wednesday morning. Rare July thunderstorms and then rain provided a welcome change from the seemingly endless leaden skies that have cast their pall over Laguna. The annual June gloom began in mid-May and was still with us as we headed into August. This year, the weather has even trumped tourists as the main complaint of summer. "I have lived here 20 years and I don't ever remember seeing it overcast all day," said Woods Cove resident Cathy Wyatt, who moved here from Virginia.

It seemed incomprehensible that Santa Ana winds whipped through the canyons and once again turned parched hillsides into conflagrations. I was sitting in the path of a Hurricane Norbert, and rain fell from the sky in buckets. Norbert had his origins off the southern coast of Mexico as a loosely formed tropical depression, and slowly grew as it ambled toward the coast of Baja at a leisurely 7 to 10 knots. To the great surprise of those who predict the course and strength of these storms, Norbert went from a Category 1 to a 4 on the Safir-Simpson scale.

CHERRIL DOTY "The world is mud-luscious ... puddle-wonderful." e.e. cummings The untamed sea let loose by the storm, even at low tide, crashed with a thunderous roar as I walked the shore this week. Wild, exhilarating wind whipped at my face. Muddy water sluiced over the cliffs and ran into the sea. Scurrying sandpiper feet stitched the smooth wet sand in quilt-like patterns even as the larger shorebirds sat patiently faced south into the wind, smoothing ruffled feathers.

WEATHER TIDBITS The first tropical storm of the season is tracking at a rapid pace to the west, situated about 1,000 miles southwest of the tip of Baja, not affecting our weather or surf. Aleeda formed on May 21, about 1,100 miles south southeast of the tip of Baja and hurried due west (270 degrees). When they form that far down there, they usually do trek to the west, especially this early in the season. This storm marks the fourth consecutive year that a spinner was born in May, way early in the season.

Once again, Laguna Beach has been in the eye of a storm of nature. This time it was a massive, seven-day rainstorm that culminated with a huge downpour early Wednesday morning that sent waters flooding through Laguna Creek and tested the mettle of residents and swift-water rescue teams trying to help them to safety. The good news is that, despite some scary moments, no one was killed or badly injured, with the exception of three small animals — a rabbit and two chickens — stuck in the city animal shelter during the deluge.

WEATHER TIDBITS Water and air temps in April have been markedly cooler than what we had the first third of January of 2003. Some serious upwelling has occurred over the past three to four weeks, pushing local ocean temps way down to the low 50s. This marks the fifth consecutive year it has happened. It's not uncommon, however, for ocean temps to be at their coldest in April instead of January. Heck, it was pushing 60 degrees New Year's Day, and here we sit at 53 to 56 in mid-April.

WEATHER TIDBITS Puerto Escondido Junior visited El Moro's Elevator Cove on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 11. The last time this happened was Feb. 3, 1998. The time before that was March 1, 1983. All three events are products of Senor El Nino. Here are the ingredients that have to gel to make it happen only once a decade on the average: A severe angle (165 degrees) south-southeast wind swell, groundswell combo at 6 to 8 foot plus at seven- to 10-second intervals, a 1.0 or lower tide and brisk easterly winds -- plus an abnormally full sandbar.

Laguna Beach cannot control storms, but flooding can be reduced and measures can be taken to better prepare residents and businesses for the next deluge, according to a task force report. With a presentation at Tuesday's City Council meeting, the Laguna Canyon Flood Task Force culminated eight months of reviewing floods in the canyon and considering ways to shore up the city's defense against the next deluge. "A recent study revealed that the ocean-facing slopes of Laguna have only about 7 inches of topsoil overlaying steep, impermeable rock," task force Chairman Eric Jessen told the council.

Once again, Laguna Beach has been in the eye of a storm of nature. This time it was a massive, seven-day rainstorm that culminated with a huge downpour early Wednesday morning that sent waters flooding through Laguna Creek and tested the mettle of residents and swift-water rescue teams trying to help them to safety. The good news is that, despite some scary moments, no one was killed or badly injured, with the exception of three small animals — a rabbit and two chickens — stuck in the city animal shelter during the deluge.

Mayor Toni Iseman has called a special meeting for 1 p.m. today at City Hall to address the needs of folks whose homes and belongings were damaged or destroyed by the storms of December. Folks who have suffered a loss are asked to come to the meeting or at least make their names and contact number available. Forms are available at City Hall. "We don't know who to help or how to help them if we don't know who they are or where they are," Iseman said. Many of the residents forced out of their Laguna Canyon homes have found shelter in neighbors' homes, canyon resident Ann Quilter said.

As I see the flooding of downtown Laguna again I recall the countless times retired (now deceased) Civil Engineer Gary Alstot showed the City Council what the problem is and how to fix it only to be put off for a variety of reasons. The problem is that the main large channel that runs from the canyon down to Beach Street is suddenly forced to run through a much smaller channel under town for a long block to empty in the ocean. Of course when heavy rains occur all of that water in the main channel that ends at Beach Street cannot pass through that narrow channel under town and floods up over Beach Street and down Broadway and all over downtown.

The pineapple express is certainly in full effect with relentless rain now going onto the fifth day. It's been at least five years since the last winter like this that I remember and we all know how that year ended up — with the devastating landslide in Bluebird Canyon on June 1, 2005. And who can forget the winter of 1997-98, when it seemed that every other week, downtown Laguna was flooded, and then there was the horrifying slide in Laguna Canyon. Specifically the Castlerock slide, that lead to the death of one and the heroic rescue of a toddler.

Ten inches of rain pounded Laguna Beach over the past week, sending floodwaters from an overflowed Laguna Creek crashing over streets and closing Laguna Canyon Road and parts of downtown Laguna Beach on Wednesday after the rainfall reached a peak. Twenty-five people were rescued early Wednesday during the height of the storm. Swift-water rescue teams pulled people from vehicles or homes that were threatened by a raging Laguna Creek, according to Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz.

Orange County was battered by heavy rains overnight that flooded downtown Laguna Beach, closed major roadways and prompted rescues in canyon areas. A sheriff's official says Modjeska, Silverado and Santiago canyons are now being evacuated due to mudslides. The city was hit hard, with mud and rock slides closing Laguna Canyon Road and heavy runoff washing away some of the main beach area. A storm-drain channel that normally diverted excess water beneath downtown Laguna Beach and into the ocean was surging over its barriers, bursting onto Beach Street, pulling down a chain-link fence and sending water spraying up to 15 feet into the air. “There are rivers coming through town, and they’ve washed out the north end of our beach,” said Jeff Grubert, 48, an entertainment distribution company manager who has an office in Laguna Beach.

A powerful, slow-moving storm system pounded Laguna Beach and the surrounding area with rain, thunder and lightning early in the week. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the city, and 1.6 inches of rain was reported at City Hall in a 24-hour period on Tuesday, according to news accounts. The lightning was most intense early Tuesday morning, but there were no problems reported to Laguna Beach Police as a result of the storm, according to Sgt. Louise Callus. The National Weather Service issued a warning of very strong currents, possibly severe rip currents and dangerous swimming conditions along the Orange County coast on Friday.

Laguna Beach dodged a bullet in the series of back-to-back thunderstorms that raced through South Orange County last week. Other surrounding cities were directly in the path of several possible tornadoes or water spouts that ripped through, leaving a path of destruction. In Laguna, one roof was reported partially torn off, and mud was reported seeping into a home on Panorama Drive in North Laguna and also in Temple Hills. Some large eucalypti were felled, and there were lots of branches either tossed to the ground or about to fall.

Sheets of rain, mud flows and high winds caused a few mishaps over a week of back-to-back storms that will continue today. No major incidents were reported from the series of storms, which included a tornado warning Tuesday. A tornado didn’t materialize in Laguna, but one catapulted a catamaran into the air in Huntington Harbor. A large eucalyptus tree fell onto South Coast Highway near the Montage Resort Tuesday and was quickly cleared away by a cutting crew. Children at Anneliese’s School on Laguna Canyon Road were evacuated Tuesday as a bridge began to overflow and school was called off for the rest of the week, police said.