Stormy Weather, Historic Playa and Follow Us Socially

Today is Feb. 18. It is the 49th day of the year. We are under a full moon. Sunset will occur about 5:42 p.m. Here are five things to know:

1. The National Weather Service forecast for today calls for stormy weather that will bring rain, heavy at times, and could produce small hail. Forecasters expect a high of 60 degrees with showers and possibly a thunderstorm tonight with an overnight low around 48 degrees. There is a 100 percent chance of rain tonight.

The weather service also issued a hazardous weather outlook warning boaters of strong winds and thunderstorms and said there will be dangeroups rip currents at all area beaches.

2. New Playa del Rey resident Alaena Hostetter in her latest "First Impressions" column talks to the author of "T.O. McCoye's Playa del Rey," a photo history book of Playa in the 1920s and 30s. You can read about it right here.

3. The race to replace Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice) in the 36th Congressional District already is heating up and an election date hasn't even been set yet. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn picked up an endorsement from City Councilman Bill Rosendahl earlier this week and then gained the backing of El Segundo Mayor Eric Busch and several other local leaders.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen also has announced her candidacy.

4. Did you know you can follow Marina del Rey Patch, which also covers Del Rey and Playa del Rey, on Facebook and Twitter?

5. We're creating a new Moms Council that we hope will range from the working mom to the stay-at-home mom to the stay-at-home dad to the PTA parents to the soccer moms. The Moms Council will use its motherly expertise to facilitate discussions about parenting and help guide parenting coverage for the site. If you're interested, please send me an e-mail at: paul.chavez@patch.com.