Memories of some strange weather

WEATHER TIDBITS

Seeing as we’re on the subject of flying spiders, 22 years ago on

June 16, 1981 a totally out of season Santa Ana howler invaded

coastal Orange County with northeast winds up to 42 mph. The humidity

was from 9 to 11%, and there was a high temperature of 101 degrees

with a low of 78 degrees in Laguna. Surface ocean temperatures

rocketed to 81 degrees tying the record set Sept. 22, 1939.

At 1 p.m., the surface sand temperature was 141 degrees! A

superior mirage was witnessed at that time as well, making Catalina

Island appear multi-layered and upside down. At that moment, nature

provided us with everything she’s got. The wind had come to a still

calm, and you could see heat waves shimmering skyward off the water.

It was 101 degrees, with 11% humidity and a 4- to 6-foot south

southeast swell from hurricane Barbara -- there were flying spiders

blown by Santa Anas from the San Jacinto Mountains.

And then you’ve got June 16, 2003 ....

But wait, let’s jump back in the time machine and visit June 16,

1976.

A moderate El Nino was gaining strength and a large, real way late

out of season comma cloud sprung southeast out of the Gulf and

unleashed 1.71 inches of rain. The water was already 73 degrees, and

Category 5 hurricane Claudia was spinning just inside the window, 500

miles south southwest of Costa Azul, Baja.

So here you’ve got a January-intensity rain going on in June and

the Wedge is 20 foot and the Newport Harbor entrance is not just

feathering, but top to bottom 15- to 20-foot bombs from Claudia

exploding over the jetties both on Big Corona side and the Wedge side

pushing 5- to 6-foot swells all the way in past China Cove.

Then there was June 16, 1972, when another El Nino and strong

thunderstorms erupted making it 75 degrees at midnight and 74 degree

water and 6- to 8-foot waves from hurricane Ava, which was merely a

harbinger of things to come during the most consistent huge Baja

swell summer on record.

June 16th of 2003? We won’t even go there!

Stay tuned!