April Showers In Trabuco Canyon, Thunder Storms Possible

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — Chilly temperatures and light rain greeted many across Orange County first thing Monday morning, and thunderstorms were possible in the region, the National Weather Service advised.

A slow-moving upper level low caused the April showers that dropped the bulk of precipitation along the Central California coast overnight, according to NWS meteorologist Curt Kaplan.

The rainfall has been spotty across the Orange County region, and yet another patch of "hit or miss" rain remained possible Monday morning, according to Kaplan.

The rainfall will remain light creating nowhere near enough precipitation for the threat of debris flows, Kaplan added.

"Dry and wet thunderstorms are possible, and any dry thunderstorm, which occurs when the atmosphere is so dry that rain dissipates before hitting the ground, can trigger fires when accompanied with lightning," the NWS said. Any strong thunderstorm also could produce wind gusts of 50 miles per hour, the weather service warned.

The California Highway Patrol recorded a handful of rain-relating accidents Monday morning including two fatal crashes on freeways in Pomona and Sun Valley.

The NWS forecast showers in Orange County, along with highs of 45 on Santiago Peak; 55 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 61 in Trabuco Canyon; 63 in Fremont Canyon, Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 64 in Mission Viejo and Newport Beach; 66 in Yorba Linda; 67 in Anaheim; and 68 in Fullerton and Irvine.

Tuesday's highs will be roughly the same, but amid cloudy skies.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.