Rain or Shine?

(Downtown Los Angeles)

Through Tuesday night...

Partly cloudy skies and it will be rather cool...especially away from the coast.

A few light rain showers over San Diego County, Inland Empire and the mountains...mainly during the evening hours.

Looking Ahead...

Another...but weaker...storm system will have an effect on the southland weather later this week.

Next week... there's the potential for 2 storm systems to bring more widespread rainfall.

Updates on future posts.

Stay up-to-date on the stormy situation at...
Southland Weather

Wet Monday

(Stratus/Stratocumulus)

Monday night... Widespread rain across all of southern California. Rain will be heavy at times...with isolated thunderstorms possible.

Hourly rainfall rates of 1/2" for coastal and valley locations.
Up to 1" per hour possible along sw facing mountain slopes...
(especially in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel and Santa Ynez mountain ranges).

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through much of Tuesday across all of southern California.

Gusty winds will at times...especially along the coast of Santa Barbara County and over all mountain areas of southern California. Gusts at times will exceed 40 mph.

Gusty winds will also be a possibility during any thunderstorm activity that does occur.

Keep up-to-date in this situation at:
Southland Weather

Seeing double?

(Double Rainbow)

This occurs when raindrops high in the atmosphere refract and reflect light back to the viewer.

These raindrops are higher than those which cause the "primary rainbow" and are special because they internally reflect the incoming sunlight twice rather than just once.

Get ready for a soaking...

A very moist pacific storm is still expected to bring rain...heavy at times to southern California over the next couple of days.

Late Sunday afternoon... Radar and satellite are indicating the rain is just about to move into Santa Barbara County.

As nighttime hours progress rain will overspread Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

For the remainder of southern California...
Rain showers will become more numerous overnight in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Showers are not expected to reach San Diego county and the Inland Empire until early Monday morning.

The Widespread heavy rain will reach Santa Barbara County sometime around rush hour Monday morning and the remainder of southern California during the afternoon hours Monday. Rain...heavy at times will continue through Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Hourly rainfall rates of 0.50 to 1.00" will be possible during the above mentioned time frame.

Due to these expected rainfall rates... the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for all of southern California.

Stay up-to-date on this situation at...
Southland Weather

Take advantage

(San Diego/Coronado - May, 2005)

Take advantage of the quiet weather conditions during the rest of this weekend as the weather will go down hill dramatically beginning Sunday night and continuing through most of week.

A large pacific storm system will begin to spread precipitation across the region beginning Sunday night with the most intense rains during the day Monday through Tuesday morning.

Hourly rainfall rates of 0.50" are likely...coastal and valley areas on Monday through Tuesday morning. Amounts up to 1" possible along SW orographic favored locations.

Due to the above mentioned rainfall forecast... The NWS in Oxnard has issued a Flash Flood Watch for all of Santa Barbara County beginning Monday morning and beginninng Monday afternoon for all of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
The FFW's will continue through Tuesday morning.

These Flash Flood Watches will likely be adjusted and expanded to include other portions of southern and central California as it gets closed to this event.

Keep up-to-date on the storm system at...
Southland Weather

Dateline: Southern California, February 25 & 26th, 2004...
...2 days of heavy rains soaked southern California...leading to flooding and mudslides.

The Pismo Pelicans

(Pelicans of Pismo Beach)

Pelicans are very sensitive to cold temperatures.

There birds will gather together in groups, so they can keep warm with eachothers body heat.

Typical southern California day!

(Hollywood Blvd. - August 1983)

Slightly warmer temperatures along with sunny blue skies expected across the southland for Thursday.

Most coastal locations will see temperatures in the 60s with 70s in the valleys.

The "marine layer" will return tonight to the coastal areas.

Looking ahead to next week...

Models are indicating that 2 significant rain events are on tap. First one during the first part of the week than the second one late in the week.

Details still have be worked out... but there is the potential for heavy rain and flooding.

More updates on this situation on future posts!

Beautiful southern california day!

(Coronado Island - May 2005)

A beautiful, sunny day for southern California for this Wednesday.
A nice day for walking or any outdoor activity.

These conditions will continue for the rest of the week!

Harvest Time

(L.A. Farmers Market - August, 1983)

Unusually mild winter temperatures in the growing areas of central California have made for a bumper crop of Strawberries.

During the last week January and first couple weeks of February... much of the crop has been harvested and made it on to shelves of your favorite market.

This is over a month to 2 months earlier than normal for central California Strawberries.

New snow on the slopes

(Rim of the World - San Bernardino Mountains)

New snow blanketed southland ski resorts over the weekend...

Anywhere from 2 to 8" fell at the resorts. Most resorts are reporting powder to packer powder with groomed conditions as of early Monday morning.

If your planning on heading up to the resorts for President's... most roads are in good winter driving condition... but besure to have a winter safety kit in your vehicle. Additionally dress warm in layers not one heavy piece of clothing.

Wintry Sunday

(San Luis Obispo County Mountains)

...Cold temperatures expected across region Sunday night.

Overview...
With mostly clear to partly cloudy skies across the Southern California and the Central coast region... temperatures will be allowed to drop cold levels overnight Sunday night.

Areas of frost are possible in valleys of areas Santa Barbara, Ventura and the Santa Clarita valley of Los Angeles Counties early Monday morning. In these take precautions if you have any sensitive plants. An bring in your animal indoors also.

A few weekend storm reports...
- Reports of a light dusting of snow 4 miles WSW of Atascadero in
San Luis Obispo County late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

- A waterspout observed 6 mi. WSW of San Clemente late Saturday afternoon.

- Several reports of flooding San Diego County Saturday afternoon.

Up-to-date weather information...
Southland Weather

Dateline: Los Angeles (Feb. 19th, 1980)...
10.9" of rain since the storms began last week.
Downtown Los Angeles has recorded over 12" of rain in the last 6 days.

Dark and gloomy

(Santa Ynez mountains -- 1992)

A rather cold and wet weekend for the southland...

...A storm system (current off the central coast) will drop south Saturday and bring rain or rain showers with snow down to the 2,500 to 3,000' level.

Rainfall amounts will range between 1/2 to 1.00" in many locations with the possibility of flooding and mud flows in recently burn areas of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Snow is likely to fall over the mountains, high deserts and even the possibility of of the white stuff along some of the foothills of the valley locations (mainly during tonight).

Also it's not out of the question to see snowflakes in the higher elevations of the Santa Monica Range and the Hollywood Hills tonight.

For Marine interests...

Scattered thunderstorms are possible over the coastal waters today. There's also a chance that some of the thunderstorms may produce a waterspout.

Up-to-date weather information at:

Southland Weather

Stormy end

(Stratus/Stratocumulus - Victorville, July 2005)

Stratus... Very flat low level clouds.

Stratocumulus... Low, lumpy layer clouds. They sometimes accompanied by very light precipitation such as drizzle. These clouds vary from dark gray to light gray and sometimes appear as round masses, rolls...with breaks of clear sky in between.

Southern California Cloud photos & Glossary...
Every cloud has a silver lining

Dateline (Feb. 17th, 1884) - Los Angeles...

A three-week storm that produced a record 38.18 inches of rain climaxed with a spectacular cloudburst north of downtown Los Angeles, sweeping milkman George Stoltz, along with two of his horses, to his death in the Arroyo Seco. His body was not found until weeks later, after his wagon and milk cans had floated downstream. Others fell into the raging water but were able to pull themselves out.

Source: KTLA TV Los Angeles Times

Southern California Winter Wonderland???

Wintry weather on tap for this weekend with possibility of snow levels down to foothills of some of the valleys and also snow showers possible in the high deserts such as the Antelope Valley and areas around Victorville and Apple Valley.

Further details at... Southland Weather

Sheetlike

(Cirrostratus)

Cirrostratus... Cirrus clouds with a flat "sheetlike" appearance. Thick cirrostratus clouds are often a signal of precipitation within 24 hours...especially if they are followed by mid-level clouds.

SoCal Cloud photos/Glossary...
Every cloud has a silver lining

In the middle

(Altocumulus)

Altocumulus... Mid level clouds with a cumuliform shape.

Mid level (Alto) clouds form at altitudes between 8,000 to 18,000 feet above ground level. These types of clouds mainly comprised of water droplets...but in the winter months they are often made up of ice crystals or both ice crystals and water droplets.

Southern California Cloud photos/glossary...
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Thunderheads

(Cumulonimbus)

Cumulonimbus... A vertical developed cumulus cloud. Often referred to a "thunderhead". These clouds are often accompanied by showers, thunder and lightning. Sometimes...hail and strong/gusty winds. These clouds are most often capped with an anvil shaped top.

Here in southern California... there often seen during the summer months over the mountains and deserts.

Like cotton.

(Cumulus Clouds)

Low level (Cumulus) are mostly composed of water droplets or if the atmosphere is cold enough ice or snow. Low clouds have a base of 6,500 feet above ground level or below.

Southern California Cloud Photos/Glossary...
Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Sunny Southern California

(The Beach at Avalon - - 1983)

East coast residents dealing with today's blizzard may wish there here in southern California.

Sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s and 80s in most areas today.

Locally breezy conditions can be experience in areas through and below canyons and passes
(mainly this morning).

Pink Flamingos & weather

(The Flamingos -- Coronado Island)

Flamingos the weather forecaster?

It often observed when the weather is about to turn stormy or the temperature turns cold... Flamingos will gather in colonies and move on.

By the way... Many think Flamingos are only seen in Florida... but... there's colonies of Flamingos in San Diego County and there from time-to-time reports of Flamingos in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

Just a couple of months ago... reports of a colony of Flamingos in a front lawn of an apartment complex in Pasadena.

A break!!!

(Sunset Beach)

A break from the warm, dry conditions today!

The marine layer has return with the onshore flow.

Temperatures will still be a bit above normal with high temperatures in the 70s in most areas...except along the immediate coast...where temperatures will be in the middle to upper 60s today.

But...

The warm, dry off shore flow will make a comeback beginning tomorrow(Saturday) and continue into the first couple of days of the coming week.

Latest updates on the fires at...
Southland Weather.

Take a dip?

(Newport Beach)

With the recent warm weather here in the southland...many are thinking about taking a swim at the beach.

You may want to reconsider...

...Water temperatures are currently in the lower to middle 50s...with even some locations reporting upper 40s Thursday morning.

On this date back in 1971...

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake in the San Fernando valley and was felt across all of southern California.

• 61, deaths, more than 2,500 injured
• $550 million in damage
• Lower Van Norman Reservoir in a state of near collapse

The latest on the fire situation at...
Southland Weather.

Record warmth!

(Lake Elsinore)

Warm, dry off shore winds will continue for the southland today.

Today... temperatures are expected to be at there warmest.
Temperatures will approach 90 degrees in some spots such as the San Gabriel valley.

Wind gusts between 40 and 45 mph will just add to the already tinder dry conditions.

Latest weather and fire updates at...
Southland Weather.

What season is it?

(San Bernardino Mountains)

What season is it here in southern California?

The warm and dry conditions the southland is experiencing this week is more typical during the fall.

No signs of this pattern changing significantly for the next 7 days or so.
Models are indicating that the high pressure over the inter-mountain west will hold through at least through early next week.

...This will mean a continued flow from the northeast (offshore). Which will mean ripe conditions for brushfires.

Up-to-date information on the fire burning in the
Anaheim Hills at:
Southland Weather

There blowing...

(Chino Hills)

Gusty winds will continue across the southland off and on through mid week.

The strongest of the winds will occur mainly through and below passes and canyons. Gusts may reach 40 to 50 mph at times.

With the strong winds and adding the low humidity into the picture... high fire danger exists. So the NWS has issued Red Flag Fire Warning for many locations of southern California.

A fast moving brush fire is threatening homes in the Anaheim Hills Area.
Further details on evacuations and road closures at: Southland Weather.

A lazy day...

(The Swans of Coronado)

Theres any old saying mariners recite...

"The flight of tame Swans against the wind is said to be a sign of rain".

La Niña is back

(Foggy Summer Evening at Santa Monica Beach)

La Niña has officially returned!

La Niña (cooling of ocean waters in the east-central equatorial Pacific).

For southern California... this typically means dry, warm weather. Which normally will result in drought conditions and the increased risk of brushfires.

Un-related story...

Deer sightings along the 405 Freeway Thursday afternoon in the Sepulveda Pass near Mulholland Drive. Reports of traffic slowdowns due to the sightings.

Guided by the light

(Point Loma Lighthouse - September 2004)

Point Loma Light house was completed on March 23rd, 1891.
It's one of the west coast's oldest lighthouses.

For over a century the lighthouse has been a beacon of light for mariners navigating the waters between Coronado and Point Loma.

Breaking the waves (part 2)

(Sunset over the L.A. Breakwater & Lighthouse - May 1999)

The Los Angeles Harbor Lighthouse also known as
"Angels Gate" has been a beacon of light for mariners since 1913.

This lighthouse was completed at a cost of only $36,000 and has survived large battering swells and the earthquakes (including the 1933 Long beach Earthquake) which killed 115 people.