El Nino Drops a Gentle Rain, Funnel Cloud

The first of three expected El Nino-related storms that arrived Monday made commuting a nightmare, sent a 30-foot-high funnel cloud into Newport Beach, and prompted hordes of residents to stock up on plastic sheeting and rubber boots.

Although the initial rainfall was gentle, the second storm punch could bring high winds and rain beginning about midmorning today and continuing through Wednesday. By week’s end, forecasters predict, 2 inches of rain will have fallen on the Southland.

On Monday, a little more than a quarter-inch of rain fell in Orange County, with more than half an inch in the mountains. That brought the season’s total to 1.21 inches so far, compared with .98 inches last season to date. The normal this time of year is .87 inches.

But the day also brought vivid evidence that the storm season has arrived, as a strong funnel cloud blew through Newport Beach in the afternoon, frightening bystanders. One man was nearly blown off the city pier but managed to grab hold as he was tossed onto the pier railing.

The fierce cloud also stirred up sand but caused no injuries or damage, officials said.

“When sunlight was hitting it, it almost made it look white,” said Newport Beach lifeguard Lt. Eric Bauer. “But you could definitely see cyclonic action.”

Witnesses said the waterspout first formed nearly three-quarters of a mile offshore about 4 p.m. The spout moved onshore so quickly that lifeguards did not have a chance to evacuate the beach, Bauer said.

“We made a public address at the pier trying to warn people,” he said, “but by the time everyone was able to collect their stuff, it essentially crashed into the pier. . . . We were fortunate the people on the pier huddled together near a building on the leeward side,” sheltered from the wind.

From the pier, the funnel swept northwest, sucking up a dense cloud of sand at least 6-feet high and then dumping it on a nearby parking lot. The funnel then smacked into several businesses on West Oceanfront.

Mari Lovejoy, manager of The Beach Ball, said she saw the funnel “bounce off the pier,” then head toward her tavern.

“It took a sign off our wall which was nailed down, and it blew napkins all over,” Lovejoy said. “Outside it took a cast-iron lamp top and [blew it] off.” Lovejoy said she found the lamp top three stores away.

*

Elsewhere, the rain caused slick roads that made for a dangerous morning and afternoon drive.

“In general, it was a difficult commute day,” CHP Officer Mike Richardson said. “The rain started everywhere right around the commute hours this morning, and it was raining again in the afternoon just in time for the commute.”

There were many fender benders but no fatal accidents, officers said.

In addition to the rain, strong winds were blamed for knocking down power lines in at least two cities. Officials in La Habra said power was knocked out of a three-square-block area. The live wire then touched a palm tree, causing a brief fire.

In Costa Mesa, a 400-volt power line was blown out about 4 p.m., shutting off electricity for at least an hour in the areas west of Harbor Boulevard as far south as Baker Street, officials said.

The rain made believers of some El Nino doubters who promptly headed for the nearest hardware store to stock up.

“There have been hordes of people coming in. They are buying guttering, rubber boots, re-roofing their houses. We just had an order for 500 sandbags from one guy,” said Catherine Murray, manager of Home Depot in Westminster. “It’s been good for us. We’ve definitely been seeing a surge in those areas for the past six weeks.”

Customers at Home Depot in Huntington Beach were surprised by the storm’s intensity.

“It’s kind of early to be getting the kind of rain we got today,” said Jay Beagle, a Huntington Beach resident who bought a tarp for his backyard.

Dan Hernandez of Huntington Beach said he had to buy new rain gutters.

“We just planted some house planters, and they are going to turn into nice little ponds,” he said. “This is something I’ve been planning to do--it has just been accelerated because of today’s weather.”

Demand for weather-related supplies has been so high that the Home Depot chain has created El Nino aisles where tarps, rubber boots, roofing materials and sandbags are stocked.

*

“When it rains, sales usually drop because people stay indoors,” said Karl Lay, manager Home Depot in Huntington Beach, referring to years past. “A lot of people are worried about the rains. You can tell because they are coming in and picking up things that are not normal, like pumps and sandbags.”

“Right now, roofing is so out of control that a lot of the contractors are [busy] four to six weeks in advance,” said another store manager.

In Anaheim, where city officials have established a special hotline, many residents expressed concern about whether their homes are within a flood zone. “Public works also had 10 people come in today for sandbags,” said Bret Colson, a city spokesman. “To date, the city has passed out almost 5,000 sandbags. There’s been a steady stream of people ever since we offered the bags more than a month ago.”

In Seal Beach, where three homes were flooded by high tides and heavy rains in September, officials were optimistic that beachfront property would be spared in the current storms.

City officials said the storms will not delay Wednesday’s construction of a dike to keep flood waters back with sand transported from Palmdale. A complicated arrangement to bring the large-grain sand to Seal Beach by train and truck has taken weeks to complete, leaving beachfront property vulnerable.

About 115,000 tons of sand, worth $1.1 million, is scheduled to build up the dike and beach level by as much as 10 feet as the city works to replace sand washed away by natural forces every year.

*

National Weather Service and WeatherData experts say that today’s storm, being pushed along the same subtropical jet stream that is typical of an El Nino year, will have stronger winds than Monday’s activity.

Rain is expected to continue through Wednesday with only partly cloudy weather expected on Thursday. However, the third storm moves in on Friday, said John Sherwin, a meteorologist with WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times.

“Right now, that [third storm] looks more like it’s headed for Northern California than Southern California. But there’s still a chance of showers,” Sherwin said.

He and other weather experts confirmed that all three storms were lined up along an El Nino-related configuration of the jet stream, that core of upper-level winds that guides storm systems.

“It’s typical for an El Nino year,” he said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Off and Raining

Less than half an inch of rain fell in Orange County on Monday, with some areas receiving barely a trace. The season total, however, exceeds both the normal amount and last year’s figure. Rainfall totals through 4 p.m. Monday:

Anaheim: .22

Dana Point: .02

Lake Forest: .17

Newport Beach: .06

San Juan Capistrano: .04

Santa Ana: .39

Santa Ana Totals

Season to date: 1.21

Last season to date: .98

Normal to date: .87

Forecast: Clearing skies by Thursday; chance of drizzle Friday

Source: WeatherData Inc.