Record heat marches in

Deirdre Newman

Record-high temperatures baked the area Monday, making the beach a

preferred destination, even for those who had to work.

“I went to work and decided to take a half day off,” said David

Rocha of Riverside. “I didn’t tell my boss [I was going to the

beach].”

The mercury shot up to 91 degrees at John Wayne Airport and 82 in

Newport Beach, both records for March 8, said Noel Isla, a forecaster

with the National Weather Service.

The warm weather inspired bursts of spontaneity as many took one

look outside this morning and decided to ditch whatever other plans

they had.

“I thought ‘there’s no place else to be today,’” said Martha

Leonard of La Habra, who came to the beach at the Newport Pier with

her twin children and her niece. Family members frolicked in the

ocean, built sandcastles, collected shells and played on the swings.

Blanca Munguia of San Bernardino was inspired to hit the beach

after picking up her kids from school.

“We just came because it would be hot,” Munguia said, as she

lathered suntan lotion on her three children.

As soon as they were protected from the burning rays of the sun,

her son Carlos flipped off his sandals and wiggled his toes in the

sand. Her other son, Ryan, got a small shovel and pail and started

digging while daughter Daisy took in the scene.

For Maia Hendrickson and her husband Mark, the warm weather was a

welcome change from the frigid temperatures they endure in the

Midwest.

“We’re from Minnesota, so we think it’s great,” she said, noting

that it would probably be in the high 30s Monday back home.

Inside PJ’s Surfrider, Rocha tried on Hawaiian shirts as wife

Susie looked on. The couple said they were making the most out of

their day at the beach.

“We’re doing it all,” she said. “We had some beers, we had

something to eat. We’re going to enjoy this weather because you never

know.”

The weather should be warm again today and then get cooler over

the next few days, Isla said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.