Summer-Like Heat Again Today in O.C., High Surf Advisory Issued

The Southland will bake in summer-like heat for one more day today, which will also mark the start of more than two days of high surf, perilous rip currents and possible flooding.

A high surf advisory issued by the National Weather Service will be in effect from 10 p.m. tonight until 4 p.m. Saturday along the Orange County coast, where a coastal flooding advisory also will be in effect.

The high surf -- the result of a large swell churned up by a strong storm system in the central Pacific Ocean -- will produce breakers o  12 and 15 feet, NWS forecasters said.

"The highest waves will affect west- and northwest-facing beaches," according to an NWS advisory.

"Due to a combination of the large swell and wind waves generated by strong, gusty winds, there will also be a chance of minor tidal overflow during the time of high tides," it said. Off the coast, a small craft advisory will be in effect through this afternoon and a gale warning, from this afternoon through late tonight.

As the high surf begins pounding the coast, several days of unusually high heat will be coming to an end, although temperatures will remain mild.

The NWS forecasts highs of 84 today in Rancho Santa Margarita, 82 in Aliso Viejo, 84 in Lake Forest, 83 in Mission Viejo, 77 in Laguna Beach, 69 in Newport Beach, 81 in Los Alamitos, 76 in Seal Beach, 79 in Rossmoor, 80 in Irvine, 78 in Fountain Valley, 81 in Laguna Niguel, 82 in San Juan Capistrano and 78 in San Clemente. Temperatures will drop a few degrees Friday and Saturday before beginning to climb back up on Sunday, according to forecasters.

Several heat records for a Jan. 4 were set in the region on Thursday -- 91 in San Gabriel, breaking the record of 87 set in 2001; 89 at UCLA, six degrees higher than the record 83 set in 2001; 88 in Long Beach, besting the record of 65 set in 1969; 85 at LAX, compared to 82 on Jan. 4 2001.

—City News Service