Rain clouds should clear

Carry your umbrella this morning, but you can put it away by the afternoon.

Rain that began Tuesday in Newport-Mesa is expected to clear up later today, and no more precipitation is expected this week, Noel Isla, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, said.

The average rainfall for coastal Orange County in January is about 2.5 inches, and only 0.04 of an inch had fallen here as of Tuesday afternoon.

That’s after the rainy season — December through April — was already off to a dry start, with less-than-average rainfall last month, Isla said.

When there is little rain, he said, “the potential for fire danger is higher, but it’s not the end of the rainy season yet.”

One good storm system could bring rainfall totals back up to average levels, he said.

Showers may fall on and off until this afternoon, but after that, the sky should clear up, Isla said.