ALWAYS CHECK THE CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU HIKE!
One of the most preventable measures a hiker can use to prepare him or herself when charting unfamiliar territory is to review the weather conditions. The more you can prepare yourself for the hike, the better time you will have on your hikes.... and it's just not safe to be hiking in bad weather. Checking the weather also helps you to determine what clothing to bring, how much water to pack (especially if it is hot) and more.
Depending on the rain, local hiking trails can be closed several days after to prevent trail erosion. Be sure to get updated information on your county's local twitter page.
Here is information for the Orange County trails: https://twitter.com/ocparks
Checking the weather is essential and we always advise bringing a rain jacket as well as the 10 essentials for emergencies.
Here are a few websites to check weather conditions:
http://www.weather.gov/
http://www.mountain-forecast.com/