Overnight storm packed big punch

June Casagrande

Downed trees, closed freeway ramps and minor flooding were some of

the effects of Wednesday night’s storm.

Another storm system is on the way, but is expected to be much

lighter, said Stan Wasowski, a forecaster for the National Weather

Service.

“What we’re expecting should be very light, maybe one or

two-tenths of an inch at most,” Wasowski said.

About a 30% chance of showers will persist through this evening.

Partly cloudy but dry skies are expected to prevail over the weekend.

Meteorologists are keeping track of what is right now a remote chance

the rains might return Monday.

“We’ll know more about that as the time approaches,” Wasowski

said.

In Costa Mesa, on- and off-ramps connecting Fairview Drive to the

San Diego Freeway were closed around 5 a.m. Thursday due to heavy

flooding. Workers shut down the ramps in order to unclog storm drains

where runoff was flooding the site. The ramps were reopened Thursday

afternoon.

In Newport Beach, Wednesday night’s downpour toppled at least two

city trees through a combination of rain-soaked soil and high winds.

Some minor flooding at the parking lot of the Balboa Pier required

city workers to pump out rainwater, said Mike Pisani, acting director

of the city’s General Services Department.

The biggest effect of the storm, however, will be on local water

quality. After any heavy rain, the Santa Ana River carries debris

from as far inland as Riverside County to local beaches.

“Debris is already coming down the Santa Ana River; we can see

it,” Pisani said. “It will be deposited on the beach.”

Pisani said that workers have already begun cleaning up the debris

and that work will likely continue for several weeks.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.