Rain won’t dampen Halloween activities

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- Trick-or-treaters will not have to worry about getting

their costumes wet or treading carefully on muddy ground for Halloween

this evening.

The light sprinkles and showers that fell from a cloudy sky Tuesday

were expected to end early this morning, said Noel Isla, meteorologist

for the National Weather Service in San Diego. Orange County was likely

to get less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall Tuesday, Isla said.

Today will be only cloudy or partly cloudy while bright sunshine will

return Thursday, he said.

Tuesday’s showers were a result of a cold front approaching Southern

California, he said.

“It is quite common for this time of the year,” Isla said.

However, he said, forecasters expect a “normal winter” this year in

terms of temperature and rain.

“It’s not going to be anything out of the ordinary,” he said. “It’s

not going to be an El Nino year.”

Local police and fire departments said there were no reported

incidents as a result of the light rain.

However, the county health care agency issued an advisory Tuesday

evening to warn swimmers that bacteria levels may rise significantly in

ocean and bay waters because of the rain. Heavier rains typically cause

the elevated bacteria levels to last longer, according to the agency.

Fashion Island’s Halloween show “will go on” today as planned,

spokeswoman Shayne Voorheis said.

The center will host several activities in the afternoon, including a

costume parade, trick-or-treating at the stores and photo sessions at the

pumpkin patch.

Voorheis said she does not recall rain falling on Halloween for the

last three years.

“It’s the harvest weather, and I think people know that,” she

said.Kids and parents may have to cover up a little bit to protect

themselves from the chilliness in the air, Voorheis said.

“Our events are in the afternoon, so I think it should be OK,” she

said. “We’re hoping it’ll be a perfect day.”