Weather Cools Somewhat, but Beaches Still Popular

The weather was balmy with cooler inland temperatures Sunday, but tens of thousands of people still sought refuge at the county’s beaches and parks.

The mercury reached only 81 in Anaheim, a big drop from the 95-degree high reported in the city Saturday. Dana Point recorded a high Sunday of 77 degrees, El Toro had an 84 and Santa Ana hit 79. Along the coast, high temperatures remained in the 70s.

At Huntington Beach, more than 100,000 people flocked to the sand, according to Police Sgt. Joe Consoli.

Consoli estimated that 35,000 people congregated near the city pier to watch the finals of the 14th Annual Op Pro Surfing Championships.

While the large crowds were peaceful, lifeguards were kept active by more than 40 rescues, making it one of the busiest days of the summer. Lifeguard Matt Karl said increasing surf with 5- to 8-foot breakers and dangerous rip currents presented a threat to swimmers.

“This was really the first big swell we’ve had in two months,” Karl said. “It was definitely overhead surf out there today with 5- to 8-foot faces. The surf kicked up the rip currents and people were pulled out from the shore.”

However, no serious injuries were reported, he said.

At Seal Beach, a pro volleyball tournament helped draw about 10,000 to the shore, lifeguard supervisor Paul Carter said. But the surf was mild at Seal Beach, where only 20 rescues were reported, Carter said.

Despite Sunday’s cooler temperatures, weather experts said that a warming trend is expected for the first half of this week.

“Over the next couple of days, we will warm up a little, though not too much,” said Curtis Brack, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

County temperatures are expected to warm slightly today with highs in the 70s along the coast and 90s inland.

Brack said the humidity will probably not be as high as in recent days. Relative humidity was 73% in Santa Ana on Sunday, he said.

Overnight lows in the 60s and upper 50s are expected, he said.

A high-pressure system should weaken toward the end of the week, bringing cooler temperatures in the 70s along the coast and 80s inland, Brack said.

Brack said that means more of the “same low clouds and fog” that have plagued Orange County this summer, beginning as early as Thursday, he said.

Firefighters from three agencies, including Anaheim, Yorba Linda and the Orange County Fire Authority, battled a five-acre blaze in Yorba Linda’s Gypsum Canyon area Sunday. No structures were damages and no injuries were reported