Drier weather in weekend forecast

Clouds and rain rolling through Orange County on Thursday evening have already passed their peak, according to the National Weather Service.

Today the Newport-Mesa region should expect scattered showers and possibly thunderstorms but no sustained heavy rainfall, agency forecaster Steve Vanderburg said.

“What you’re getting [Thursday evening] is the actual front,” he said. “After that, it’s on-and-off-again showers. It doesn’t look like this is going to be a big storm as far as rainfall amounts.”

Rain totals are expected to be one-third to one-half inch, Vanderburg said. After today, the weekend looks to be dry, with highs in the 60s. Through Monday, the pattern will be fog in the mornings, gradually clearing throughout the day, he said.

Unlike storms earlier this month, conditions aren’t so dry as to switch back to Santa Ana winds when the clouds pass.

“You’re getting to the end of that season,” Vanderburg said. “There are winds in the desert but not out in Orange County.”

Surf should be 3- to 5-feet high today and Saturday, according to the weather service. The potential for rip currents is high.