Dust Off the Umbrella

So long, sweet sunshine.

Up to three-quarters of an inch of rain is expected to fall this week as a “moderately-cold storm” moves through area beginning late Tuesday night.

The National Weather Service says to expect a few periods of moderate rainfall Wednesday. Thursday will be mainly dry, but Friday will be wet through Saturday—that's when rainfall will be the heaviest.

In Newport Beach, daytime temperatures are expected to hover in the low 60s, with nighttime lows dropping to the high 40s.

The Weather Service has issued a hazardous-weather statement, cautioning Southern California residents of strong, gusty winds Wednesday afternoon and evening in the passes and mountains, where snow is expected to fall as low as 4,000 feet.

So far this season, 13.44 inches of rain has fallen at the Weather Service’s gauge at John Wayne Airport, 2 inches more than last year, and nearly double the amount that fell in 2009.

This week’s rain could help tip the scales to more than 170 percent of what’s normal for this time of year.