Weak to moderate Santa Ana winds are expected through Friday, with the strongest winds expected tonight into Thursday. Today will be a few degrees cooler than yesterday. Conditions will gradually warm Thursday through the middle of next week. Lingering marine layer low clouds will clear through the afternoon, with little to no low cloud coverage expected Thursday into next week.
For extreme southwestern California including Orange, San Diego, western Riverside and southwestern San Bernardino counties,
Visible satellite was showing patchy low clouds across the coastal basin, with some areas of high clouds near the coast. There were a few isolated showers this morning, mainly near the coast with accumulations around 0.01 inch. Dry conditions are expected for the rest of the day. Low clouds will clear through the afternoon, with areas of high clouds at times into next week. Chances of low clouds developing are low due to a persistent weak offshore pressure gradient into next week.
A 1030 mb surface high will develop over the Great Basin today, switching the pressure gradient offshore and bringing periods of Santa Ana winds to the foothills and coastal mountain slopes. Gusty north winds through the Cajon Pass this afternoon will become more northeasterly and widespread tonight into Thursday morning. Along and below the coastal slopes of the mountains and through passes peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph, locally up to 55 mph are expected. Northeast to east winds will continue into Friday morning, but with decreasing coverage and strength. Gusts on Friday are expected to peak at 35 mph. Lowest daytime humidity on Thursday and Friday for the valleys and inland coastal areas will fall to 15 to 25 percent.
Highs today will be a few degrees cooler than Tuesday, with highs a few degrees below average for most locations. Warmer conditions are expected Thursday, with further warming expected through the weekend into the middle of next week. Highs Tuesday and Wednesday will be 10 to 18 degrees above average for inland areas.
031630z. Coasts/Valleys/Foothills, Low clouds based 2500-5000 ft MSL are scattering out and giving way to VFR conditions through the rest of the TAF period. North to northeast winds gusting 20-30 kts in the foothills will eventually spread into valleys below the Cajon Pass after 18Z (including vcnty KONT). These winds will strengthen to as high as 45 kts in the foothills after 04Z this evening. Areas of LLWS and MOD up/downdrafts are expected in lee side of the mountains. Strong winds out of the north to northeast will continue through the TAF period, beginning to ease late Thursday into early Friday morning.
Higher Mountains/Deserts, VFR conditions today and tonight with FEW to SCT high clouds around 20000 ft MSL. North to northeast winds gusting 25-40 kts through mountain passes and along east-facing slopes in the San Bernardo and Riverside mountains will weaken slightly after 18Z. Winds will begin to increase after 03Z Thursday to 20-30 kts through the end of the TAF period.
No hazardous marine conditions are expected today through Sunday.
Very high tides will occur each morning today through Friday, threatening coastal flooding, minor tidal overflow and beach erosion. Chances of these impacts are higher this morning and Thursday morning as elevated surf up to 5-6 feet combines with the high tides, mostly in San Diego County. Check the Coastal Hazard Message for details.
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement through Friday morning for Orange County Coastal Areas-San Diego County Coastal Areas.
PZ, None.
