Deepa Bharath Dark clouds loomed and giant...

Deepa Bharath

Dark clouds loomed and giant drops of rain pelted the streets

Friday during the first serious winter storm of what weather gurus

are now confidently proclaiming an El Nino year.

No major incidents or traffic accidents were reported locally. No

trees fell, but Newport Beach Fire dispatchers said that as of Friday

evening they had received five calls relating to downed power lines.

The showers are expected to continue through today and taper off

tonight, said Philip Gonsalves, meteorologist for the National

Weather Service in San Diego.

John Wayne Airport recorded 0.54 inches of rain as of Friday

evening.

Sunday will be partly cloudy. And the rain is far from gone, he

said.

“Last year was a record dry season,” Gonsalves said. “But this

year, we’re going to have above average rainfall.”

Californians can of course thank El Nino for that. Gonsalves is

quick to point out, though, that El Nino does not cause storms or

rain. El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the

tropical Pacific that affects where the storms go, he said.

“It allows the storm to bring in more moisture, which is why we

see more rain in an El Nino year,” he said.

Residents can also expect to see some big surf over the weekend.

Some of the San Diego beaches may see 8-foot sets, but along the

Orange County coast, it is likely to be more mellow, although still

big, Gonsalves said.

“It’s only the beginning of winter,” he said. “And we’re already

seeing more rain compared to the same time last year.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.