A record-breaking rainstorm

Tuesday’s storm was one for the record books.

The record in question was minor, to be sure, but it was broken nonetheless.

Between 4:30 a.m. Tuesday and 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, .85 inches of rain fell at John Wayne Airport. That’s the most rain that’s ever been recorded during that particular 24-hour stretch on those particular days, National Weather Service spokesman Stan Wasowski said.

The previous record, .72 inches, was set on March 28 and 29, 1979.

The rain clouds descended on Newport-Mesa just after noon Tuesday, and by dark it was pouring in some areas. The wet weather lasted throughout the night but was gone by Wednesday morning, when residents awakened to sunny skies.

During the height of the storm, from 4 p.m. Tuesday to early Wednesday, .55 inches of rain was recorded in Newport Beach, said forecaster Philip Gonsalzes.

Wind was also a factor in the Tuesday night storm, with gusts of up to 26 mph reported at John Wayne.

Due to the rainfall, the Orange County Healthcare Agency issued an advisory warning people not to swim at any Orange County beaches, said spokeswoman Monica Mazur.

Following a rainstorm, bacteria levels in ocean and bay waters rise and create potentially unsafe swimming conditions for humans, the healthcare agency warned. Urban runoff, carried in storm drains and rivers, can contain unusually large amounts of bacteria after a significant rainfall.

Bacterial levels can be unsafe for up to three days after the rain. Swimming in water close to storm drains and creek or river outlets should be avoided during that time period.

Orange County will have a small break in the stormy weather today, but rain appears again in the forecast late Friday and Saturday, Gonsalzes said.