Beach Hazards Continue In Dana Point Through Tuesday

DANA POINT, CA — Strong winds blew in the Southland for a time amid warm temperatures Monday, raising fears of elevated fire weather conditions and risks of power outages, but after several hours of strong winds, the National Weather Service canceled the only wind advisory that it had issued.

In Orange County a beach hazards statement, which is slightly less serious than a high surf advisory, will be in effect through Tuesday morning amid warnings of minor coastal flooding coinciding with high tides.

Waves of 6.9 feet were forecast in Newport Beach at 9:02 a.m. Monday and 6.6 feet at 9:44 a.m. Tuesday.

If you visit the coast, best to watch from the shore rather than brave the higher than normal surf and dangerous rip currents.

No coastal warnings were immediately issued for L.A. County but beach hazards statements were in effect in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

"Minor coastal overflow could result in water in some beach parking lots and other low-lying immediate coastal locations," said the NWS about Orange County conditions. "Beaches most prone to flooding include (in Orange and San Diego counties) Sunset, Seal, Newport, Oceanside, Cardiff, La Jolla Shores and Imperial."

Off the coast, hazardous wind and sea conditions are expected, prompting the NWS to issue a small craft advisory that will be in effect from midnight to 3 p.m. Tuesday, when inexperienced sailors are urged to remain out of the water, especially in small vessels.

Sunny skies are in the forecast in Orange County. Expect highs of 69 on Santiago Peak; 77 in San Clemente; 80 in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach; 82 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 85 at Fremont Canyon; 87 in Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo; 88 at Trabuco Canyon; and 89 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine. Temperatures will fall by up to 10 degrees Tuesday and remain in the high 60s and low 70s through Sunday.

Sunny skies and warm temperatures were forecast Monday in L.A. County, warmer than neighboring Orange County. In Los Angeles, highs will reach 72 degrees on Mount Wilson; 75 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 79 in Avalon; 85 at LAX; 86 in Saugus; 87 in Burbank; 88 in Long Beach; 88 in San Gabriel; 89 in Pasadena; and 91 in Woodland Hills and Downtown L.A. Tuesday's highs will be sharply lower in some communities. Downtown L.A., for example, will be 15 degrees lower. l.A. county temperatures will remain in the high 60s and low 70s through at least Sunday.

The weather service began the day by forecasting gusts of 20-35 miles per hour along the coasts and in southland valleys and of 35-50 mph in the mountains. But as of early Monday morning, the only wind advisory issued was for the Santa Clarita Valley and portions of San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. It was to have been in effect until 2 p.m. Monday.

However, the NWS canceled the advisory in a mid-morning statement.

"Local northeast winds to around 35 miles per hour are possible in the hills this morning; otherwise winds generally will be below advisory levels." A wind advisory denotes an expectation of 35-mph winds.

Earlier, the NWS reported on the strongest gusts chronicled in Southern California after 3:30 p.m. Sunday. These included 59 mph at Whitaker Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, 49 mph at Brown's Canyon in the San Fernando Valley and 36 mph at Escondido Canyon along the L.A. County coast.

In an early-morning statement, the NWS said that "gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and make driving difficult, especially for high- profile vehicles. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result."

The weather service said some freeways will be affected by strong winds, including the 14, 118 and 126.

"Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high- profile vehicle," urged the weather service. "Secure outdoor objects."
Given that conditions seemed to herald fire weather, the NWS also urged residents to avoid sparking a fire by not burning trash outdoors or parking vehicles on dry grass.