Rain, wind blow through

The largest storm to hit California this season brought more than an inch of rain to Newport-Mesa by the end of Monday, weather experts said.

“Some [storms] hit Southern California or Northern California, but this one hit the entire state,” said National Weather Service forecaster Stan Wasowski.

From the past weekend through Monday, experts predict between an inch and an inch and a half of rain will have showered Newport-Mesa and the rest of the county. Orange County averages about 3 inches of rain in February, Wasowski said.

At the coast, Newport Beach lifeguards said they had wind gusts as high as 43 mph Monday with a sustained wind of 32 mph. Waves were peaking at about 6 feet, officials said.

As the wind peters out by the end of the week, the western swell should keep waves at 1 to 3 feet, lifeguards said.

The wet weather is expected to continue through today, with a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms in the day, decreasing to about 20% by tonight.

Winds should die down as well, according to the National Weather Service.

It should reach the high 50s today, and the weather will continue to warm up through the end of the week as the skies clear.

On the public safety front, lifeguards reported that few people ventured out into the water, which carried a strong side current.

Emergency personnel saw the expected uptick in car collisions associated with the rain, but no serious injuries were reported.

The weather has apparently kept criminals indoors as well.

Police said nothing significant was reported Monday or over the weekend.