Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool: Southern California weekend brings rain, snow, wind

LOS ANGELES — A day of moderate temperatures is in store for Southern California Friday on the eve of a wet and cool weekend marked by rain, snow, strong gusty winds and dangerous driving conditions, forecasters said.

Mostly cloudy skies were forecast in LA County Friday, along with highs of 66 degrees on Mount Wilson; 69 in San Pedro; 71 in Torrance, Hawthorne and at LAX; 72 in Long Beach and Avalon; 74 in downtown LA and Burbank; 75 in San Gabriel; 76 in Pasadena, Whittier and Woodland Hills; 77 in Covina, West Covina and Lancaster; and 78 in Palmdale. On Saturday, highs will fall to the high 50s and low 60s amid rain, with snow expected on Mount Wilson along with highs in the low 40s, followed on Sunday by highs similar to Saturday’s, plus showers. Sunny skies will return Monday and a slow warming trend will get underway.

Orange County will have a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies Friday, with clouds appearing over some inland cities and Santa Ana Mountain areas, along with highs of 64 degrees on Santiago Peak; 69 in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach; 70 in San Clemente and on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 74 at Fremont Canyon and Fullerton; 75 at Trabuco Canyon, Yorba Linda, Anaheim and Mission Viejo; and 76 in Irvine. Saturday’s temperatures will be up to 24 degrees lower, amid showers in most communities and snow showers on Santiago Peak in the Santa Anas. Sunny skies will return Monday and temperatures —still in the 40s, 50s and 60s — will start to slowly ramp up.

The NWS forecast between a 10th and a quarter-inch of rain in most locations this weekend and a half-inch in the mountains and foothills.

The NWS this morning issued a winter weather advisory that will be in effect from 9 tonight until 10 Sunday night in the San Gabriel Mountains in both LA and Ventura Counties. It forecast snow accumulation of 3 to 6 inches above 6,000 feet, though it will be 6 to 9 inches in places. A dusting that could produce 1-inch accumulation is possible between 4,000 to 5,000 feet, including the Grapevine portion of Interstate 5, amid wind gusts of 40-45 miles per hour, said the NWS.

Roadways that may be affected by accumulating snow and gusty winds include Highway 33 in Ventura County and Interstate 5 and Angeles Crest Highway in LA County, the NWS warned.

A wind advisory will be in force until 9 p.m. Friday in the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Mountains, with southwest-to-west winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour expected in both, along with gusts of up to 45 mph.

“Gusty winds and reduced visibility from blowing dust will make driving difficult,” according to the NWS. “Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Areas of blowing dust can suddenly and dangerously reduce visibilities to near zero.”

Highways 14 and 138 could be affected around the Antelope Valley while accumulating snow and gusty winds could impact Highway 33 in Ventura County and Interstate 5 and Angeles Crest Highway in LA County, the NWS warned.

Forecasters attributed the expected inclement weather to a low-pressure system out of the Pacific.

Along the LA County coastline, a high surf advisory will go into effect at 4 p.m., lasting to 4 p.m. Sunday, the NWS said. The surf will reach 3 to 6 feet in height, and a high risk of rip currents will exist, according to the NWS. Similar conditions will prevail Saturday, although the surf is expected to reach a height of 5 to 8 feet at west-facing beaches.

A slightly less serious beach hazards statement went into effect at 8 a.m. Friday in Orange County and will expire at 2 a.m. Monday amid waves of 4 to 6 feet, with local sets to 7 feet. The highest surf is expected Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening.

“Elevated surf and strong rip currents will create hazardous swimming conditions,” warned the NWS.

Off the coast, a gale watch will be in effect from this afternoon to late tonight amid winds of 20 to 35 knots, gusts of 40 and 45 knots, and combined seas of 7 to 10 feet when wind strength is at its most severe, forecasters said.

“Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions,” urged an NWS statement. “Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.”

Additionally, a small craft advisory will be in force until 9 p.m. in San Luis Obispo County, serving to warn inexperienced sailors to stay out of the water, especially in small vessels.

Source: Orange County Register