A warming trend will continue into Saturday with temperatures well above average. Locally gusty offshore winds will continue through this period in the mountains and foothills as well. Slightly cooler weather can be expected by Sunday and Monday as a weak area of low pressure moves closer to the region. High pressure regains control for the middle and end of next week, bringing more warm weather with additional periods of Santa Ana winds.
For extreme southwestern California including Orange, San Diego, western Riverside and southwestern San Bernardino counties,
Clear skies were being observed across the area as of 6 AM, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, locally into the mid-30s in wind sheltered locations. Places were the winds are already breezy are seeing temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Peak wind gusts since midnight have been 35 to 45 mph, with a few local gusts up to 55 mph in wind prone locations. A similar uptick in winds are expected tonight into Saturday, with more emphasis on foothills and canyons prone to easterly winds. Winds will slowly diminish into Saturday afternoon.
In addition to offshore winds an area of high pressure will build and expand over the Desert Southwest with 850 mb temperatures peaking near 15C. High temperatures across SoCal will locally go over 15 degrees above average. High temperatures are expected to peak on Saturday, with widespread highs over 75 degrees for the coast; over 80 degrees for the valleys and low desert,; upper 60s to low 70s in the mountains; and 70s in the High Desert.
A weak low will form to the south, bringing increasing onshore flow and subtle cooling to the area by Sunday and Monday. Even with the cooling, temperatures will still be well above normal for early February at 5 to 10 degrees above normal. This "reprieve" will not last long though, as the ridge from this weekend becomes reinvigorated and anomalously strong as it parks itself over the western part of the country by the middle and end of next week. This will bring another period of dry and warm weather. Nbm forecast points to highs returning into the 80s across inland valleys with highs in the 60s/70s from the beaches into the high desert and foothill regions. Something we will also be watching is going to be additional rounds of elevated Santa Ana winds. As the area of high pressure moves northward into the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest, an area of low pressure will form to our south. The movement of these systems will act to funnel desert air into Southern California, increasing offshore flow by next Wednesday and Thursday. Model ensemble guidance points to a potential elevated to moderate Santa Ana wind event by this time, where highest winds would be over mountains/passes of San Diego and Riverside Counties.
301030z, Mostly clear and VFR conditions today and tonight. Areas of northeast wind gusts 25-35 kts will continue in foothills and below mountain passes into adjacent valleys.
No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Tuesday.
Elevated surf will combine with the high tide this morning, increasing the risk of strong rip currents and minor tidal overflow.
Ca, None. PZ, None.
