NEWPORT BEACH — The strong winds and heavy rains that pelted the region in late January wreaked havoc on Orange County’s three harbors, keeping Harbor Patrol officers and boaters on their toes during the weeklong downpour.

Photo by: Joanie Seaton Tornado Damage — Huntington Harbour witnessed a rare California weather occurrence when a tornado touched down in the harbour, lifting a 35-foot catamaran 50 feet in the air before landing on top of another vessel.

Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol officers increased personnel and on-water assets at all three harbors in order to handle the incidents occuring. Boats breaking from moorings, needed rescues and vessels being swept up by a tornado were only a few of the calls officers responded to.

“I’ve been in the harbor on and off for years, and this was one of the most severe periods of weather that I have experienced,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol Sgt. Steve McCormick. “It did create quite a bit of havoc throughout the harbors.”

A high number of boats at both Sunset/Huntington Harbour and Newport Beach broke free when 106 mph winds swept through Newport Harbor Jan. 18 sending boats adrift. In the mooring field many boats held on by one line.

Local residents got the feeling they weren’t in California anymore when a tornado touched down in Huntington Harbour Jan. 19.

According to observers, the tornado lifted a 35-foot catamaran 50 feet in the air before dropping it onto another vessel and a dock piling. The tornado then reportedly lifted another 35-foot catamaran, flipped it over and deposited it 30 feet from its initial position. On land, trailered vessels were also moved around.

Powerful weather conditions may have kept many people on land and indoors, but there were a few who ventured out into the pounding surf. Officers with Newport Beach Harbor Patrol rescued six men from the water when their outrigger canoe capsized, Jan. 21.

Others, such as liveaboard Jennifer Witherspoon, rode out the storm aboard a vessel.

“It was crazy, but we all keep an eye out for each other,” said Witherspoon, who kept her foul weather gear on for the duration of the storm.

The Newport Harbor liveaboard watched the storm from inside the cabin of her 36-foot Islander, where she witnessed and reported many boats breaking from mooring lines. Witherspoon was responsible for managing the vessel while her husband was at work, leaving her to ensure the lines were secure every 10 to 15 minutes and look after the couple’s 140-pound Rottweiler, Morgan.

“A wet dog is not pleasant,” said Witherspoon who had to cruise Morgan to a grassy area three times a day.

“It is very possible that they (liveaboards) were some of our informants on some of the activity that occurred throughout the harbor, because they were on the water during all of this,” said Sgt. McCormick.

Witherspoon admitted that while she enjoys her liveaboard lifestyle, the most recent storm kept her back on land for a bit.

“I got seasick,” she said. “At that point, I said ‘I’ve had enough.’”