Ocean water drops to winter-like temperatures

NEWPORT BEACH -- Summer is ending sooner than expected with a

12-degree drop in Newport Beach waters in the past week.

The water temperature has fallen from 68 degrees to 56 degrees since

Labor Day, said Marine Safety Supervisor Brent Jacobsen.

“Tuesday evening, we started to get west winds at 12 to 15 miles an

hour followed by west winds on Wednesday night and Thursday night of 15

to 20 miles,” Jacobsen said. “It brings up all the water on the bottom

up to the surface.” Although Labor Day is considered the last day of

summer and the lifeguard staff drops to a skeleton crew of about 30, the

Newport Beach staff was reduced even further to 12 lifeguards due to the

quick temperature change.

“Usually it doesn’t necessarily drop like this until November or late

October,” Jacobsen said. “Normally this week is slow, but it’s really

slow.”

-- Marissa Espino