A WOMAN sitting on the storm surge protection dune watches the waves hitting the pier in Seal Beach, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

While much of Northern and Central California were battered by the “storm cyclone” that wreaked havoc, damaged property and took lives, West Orange County has managed to escape – so far – without serious consequences.

The thunderstorms forecast for Tuesday arrived instead in the form of some steady rain for a few hours– Garden Grove got about one and one-half inches – giving way to chilly but relatively dry times the rest of the day.

Some relief from the danger of heavy weather is forecast for the area, with partly cloudy or mostly cloudy conditions for Wednesday through Friday.

However, rain is expected to return on Saturday and perhaps Sunday.

Although the West Orange County area did avoid most effects of the weather, there have been some impacts. As of early Tuesday evening, Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach was closed between Seapoint Street and Warner Avenue because of flooding. Motorists were advised to use an alternate route.

Closed since last Thursday has been the Seal Beach Pier as heavy surf – pushed by the storm – caused some structural damage.