Tropical storm may bring rain

‘ Very uncomfortable’ humidity will also be in the picture, meteorologist says.

The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Dolores will pass over Southern California this weekend, bringing rain, thunderstorms and a powerful ocean swell that will stretch from Los Angeles County to Santa Barbara County, forecasters say.

“It’s going to be very uncomfortable; everyone is used to drier conditions,” said Robbie Munroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“Very high humidities, even more than two weeks ago,” Munroe said.

Though temperatures will range from the mid- 80s along the coast to the lower 90s inland, the humidity will be high everywhere, he said.

There’s a 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms around Los Angeles on Saturday and the greatest chance on Sunday into Mon- day.

Because of moisture from the tropical storm, there’s little risk of dry lightning strikes in the region’s parched mountains; in fact, the scattered storms and persistent humidity may actually add some much- needed moisture to vegetation, Munroe said.

But what’s good news inland isn’t the same along the coast. The storm is creating dangerous surf, and forecasters warn that waves could top out at 7 feet, which combined with a powerful riptide can be deadly.

During a strong swell last weekend, a Sun Valley man’s body was pulled from the water off Zuma Beach. Another man drowned in La Jolla.

If the storms bring thunderstorms to the coast, authorities may try to keep beachgoers out of the water. Last summer, a man died and several other people were injured when lightning strikes shocked swimmers in the waters off Venice Beach.