Showers to end the week

Showery weather to end the work week here in the southland. Rainfall amounts from this storm shouldn't exceed 0.25" in most locations by the time this system moves east of the region sometime Saturday morning.

Snow showers will be possible at the higher elevations of the Santa Ynes, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains. Total snowfall accumulations shouldn't exceed 3" by late Saturday morning in these areas.

There will be a brief break from the showers Saturday afternoon through Sunday. The clouds will be on the increase Sunday night then more precipitation will move into the southland Monday morning and will likely last through mid week.

Time lapse

Time lapse of thunderstorm/frontal passage

At: 4:30pm
Increasing clouds and winds as cold front is about 5 miles to the west. Gusts estimated at 20 to 25 mph from SSW. Lightning visible to the west (every 30 seconds or so).

At: 4:40pm
Front nears (est. 1 mile to west) Clouds lower (ceilings at apx. 4,000' above ground level). Sustained winds at 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph from the SSW. Pressure drops 1 mb. Thunder can be heard to the west/northwest along with frequent cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes from southwest to northwest quadrants. Sprinkles observed.

At: 4:47pm
Frontal passage...pressure rises about 2 mb. Wind shifts from SSW to WNW. Gusts to 35 mph or so. Light to moderate rain observed along with blowing dust and sand. Visibilities restricted to an estimated 2 to 3 miles. Lightning and thunder all quadrants.

Safety measures were taken when shooting these pictures. The 4:40p and 4:47pm pictures were taken from indoors...due to the frequent lightning.

The following camera and settings were used in making these photos...

Camera/settings:
Camera Model: Olympus C60 Digital 6.1 megapixel
Image Quality: Super High Quality format (2816 x 2112 resolution)

Settings/Filters:
Filter: Cloud filter used on all four images
ISO: 100 all images
Scene: Landscape shooting
F-Number: 0.0 to 1.5

Rain drops are falling

Strong winds and showers - March 28th, 2006

Storm totals...

• Downtown Los Angeles: 1.68"
• Los Angeles (LAX): 1.80"
• Beverly Hills: 1.75"
• Santa Monica Airport: 1.78"
• Long Beach: 1.32"
• Burbank: 1.91"
• Van Nuys: 1.67"
• Agoura: 1.93"
• Whittier Hills: 1.43"
• Mount Wilson: 1.72"
• Lancaster: 0.57"
• Oxnard: 1.74"
• Moorpark: 2.05"
• Santa Barbara Airport: 1.18"
• Carpinteria: 1.42"
• Santa Maria: 0.62"
• Oceanside: 0.47"
• Fashion Valley: 0.43"
• Santee: 0.59"
• Julian: 1.02"
• Fullerton Airport: 0.39"
• Rialto: 0.87"
• Riverside: 0.70"
• Hemet: 0.35"

Soggy Tuesday

Rain...heavy at times across all of southern California Tuesday and Tuesday night. Hourly rainfall rates over the coastal and valley locations will range from 1/4 to 1/2" at times...especially during the afternoon and evening hours. For L.A. County the heaviest rains are likely between noon and 6:00pm Tuesday. Hourly rainfall rates may exceed 1/2" along southwest facing mountain slopes.

Snow...heavy at times possible over the higher elevations of the mountains of L.A. and Ventura Counties Tuesday and Tuesday night. Hourly snowfall rates may reach 1" per hour at times later Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Snow will also be possible over the higher elevations of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties Tuesday night.

Precipitation is expected to become more showery in nature by Wednesday morning.

For detailed information on this storm system.
Visit: Southland Weather

Rain for the Spring Flowers

A wet storm system is likely to bring to the soutland beginning late Monday night and lasting through Wednesday.

This storm system has the potential of bringing 1 to 2" of rain for the coastal and valley areas. 2 to 4" possible on southwest facing coastal slopes...and 1/2" in the deserts.

Due to the potential of heavy rains...the NWS has issued a Flash Flood Watch beginning late Monday night and continuing through late Tuesday night for the recent burn areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties...and from late Monday night through Wednesday for all of Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The possibility exist for flash floods and mudslides in these areas.

There's a winter side to this storm too...

Snow will likely fall above 7,000 to 7,500 feet beginning late Monday night and lower to 6,000 feet Tuesday afternoon...then finally lowering to 4,500 to 5000 feet Tuesday Night and Wednesday morning. The potential exists for significant snowfall accumulations in the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. So...the NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning from 3:00am Tuesday to 6:00am/pst Wednesday. Winter Storm Warnings maybe issued for mountain areas further east and south later Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

For more detailed weather information on this situation...
Visit: Southland Weather

A nice finish

(An early spring thunderstorm in the desert)

It will be a nice finish to the weekend for all of southern California.

Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies for Sunday with light and variable winds for the most part.
Daytime high temperatures will be in the 60s.

Meanwhile...

A fairly intense storm system in the Pacific...will have a impact on the southland weather beginning late Monday night and continuing into early Wednesday. This storm will have a chance of bringing widespread moderate to occasional heavy rain and the risk for mudslides in recent burn areas.

More on the storm on later postings.

And finally...

Some of you may have been following the story about the California gray whale that has been swimming around San Diego bay recently. It's still there as of Saturday afternoon. It was last spotted near Pt. Loma.

Gray whale sightings are common during March along the southern California coast...as the seasonal migration northward takes places.

Not the best of Saturday's

***3:00pm/pst Update***

A few light showers or sprinkles are still a possibility through Saturday evening over the region (except for the deserts).

Otherwise the skies across the southland will be partly to mostly cloudy skies through Saturday night.

Heading for the high country?

Lake Arrowhead Lodge

Look's like a fairly nice weekend if you have plans to visit the mountains this weekend.

But...there is a slight risk for a rain or snow shower late Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. But no snow accumulation is expected.

Daytime temperatures will range from the middle 40s to around 60 for the most part through the weekend over the mountains. It will be breezy at times (especially through passes and over the ridges).

All of the ski resorts are reporting the best conditions so far this season.

Latest southern California ski conditions at...
Southland Weather

Traffic and Pollution

Stuck in Traffic on the 101

A recent report released by the EPA cites that pollution in the L.A. Basin increased one's risk for cancer by 50%.

But the common theory of thinking is that the brown cloud (smog) is the most dangerous to one's lungs. But...that's not case...

...It's actually the smog that is not visible to one's eye (CO2) Carbon Monixide which is one of the main component in car exaust...actually is one of the most dangerous types of airborn pollution.

Actually the thick brown cloud which is sometimes visible here in southern California...is actually caused by Ozone and other man-made materials which is trapped by inversion layers.

Rain now a memory

Rain/winds whistling through the pines
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Return to more normal like weather for the southland Wednesday. Mostly sunny skies will dominate with temperatures in the 60s in most coastal and valley locations.

The sunny and milder weather conditions will continue for the remainder of this week.

The birth of a tstorm

Time Lapse of a Thunderstorm
Sunday, March 19th, 2006

The storm that has brought a tenth to quarter of an inch of rain to much of the southland has moved out of the area.

For the next several days... mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and milder temperatures can be expected.

First day of Spring

(Flowering Plum Tree)
Spring will begin at: 10:26am/pst Monday morning.

The first day of spring will bring another chance of rain and mountain snow to the southland beginning Monday afternoon over Santa Barbara county...then spreading south into the remainder of southern California Monday night and continue during much of Tuesday.

Rainfall amounts will be on the light side (around 0.25" or so). 2 to 3" snow accumulation in the mountains.

Fun with weather and photos

(Multiple exposure image - Sunday Morning, 03/19/06)
Light rain and fog at the time of this picture.

Generally partly cloudy skies for Sunday night across the southland. Still a lingering light shower or two until 8 or 9:00pm over the valleys...mountains and high deserts of L.A., San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties.

Evening temperatures over the coastal and valley temperatures will range from the upper 40s to the middle 50s...then drop into the upper 30s to the upper 40s by sunrise Monday morning. Light breezes under 10 mph expected for the most part.

Meanwhile another storm is due in late Monday and Tuesday with another round of precipitation for the southland. At this point...not expecting anything in the way of heavy precipitation.

Showery Saturday

(Cloudy/dark day at Coronado and Point Loma)

There will be continue chance of showers across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties for Saturday Night. Rainfall amounts generally around a tenth of an inch. An isolated thunderstorm is also possible. There is a slight possibility of the thunderstorms producing small hail this evening.

Snow showers will continue to fall over all of the mountain areas Satuday night...but the accumulating snow will fall over the mountain ranges of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties...where an additional 1 to 3" are a possibility above 3,500 feet.

Looks like a nice Saturday night for persons in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies...except for a slight chance of an evening shower and isolated thunderstorm over the valleys of Ventura County.

Outlook for Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon...

Partly cloudy skies with light breezes (under 8 mph). A stray light shower or sprinkle can not be ruled out.

Temperatures will be in the 50s during the duration of the 26 mile run.

Latest southern California weather information at...
Southland Weather

Above the weather

(28,000 feet above the eastern Mojave desert)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The current storm system will continue to effect the southland for the first half of the weekend.

For Friday Night and Saturday...
Numerous rain showers across region through Saturday. Snow showers will fall at or slightly above the 4,000' level. Accumulations will likely be in the 4 to 8" range through late Saturday afternoon.

Most coastal and valley locations will likely see rainfall amounts by late Saturday afternoon from a third of an inch to three quarters of an inch. Some isolated locations may see locally higher amounts such as south/southwest coastal slopes and foothills.

Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon Weather...

Look's fairly nice for the runners. A few clouds with light breezes (under 8 mph or so). Temperatures in the 50s.

Stay up-to-date on the winter storm situation in southern California

at: Southland Weather

Capturing the weather

(Summer Thunderstorm between Barstow and Victorville)

Here are some tips on photographing rain and or thunderstorms that i have used. These tips are ones that seem to work the best so far for me. These tips may come in handy this weekend as another storm will be impacting the southland.

1. If your using a camera with settings... I normally set the exposure at 10 to 14 seconds at an iso of 100.
2. Use filters. I normally will use the cloud filter on my camera when photographing rain, fog and thunderstorms.
3. Some will use a tripod when photographing weather... i have never used a tripod when taking any type of picture (weather related or other). In fact the the picture above was taken moving 60 mph or so in a vehicle. But... it does help if your camera has a stabilizer built in to it.
4. If your taking a photograph of the entire rain shaft or storm... use a wide angle-lense...The picture above was taken with a wide-angle lense.
5. Never use artificial light (such as a flash) when photographing any type of weather. My opinion...it diminishes the quality and contrast of the image.
6. The most important tip in photographing the weather is... Never put your self in danger. During thunderstorms... never stand outdoors if you can hear the thunder and see the lightning. Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the U.S. No picture is that important to put your self at risk.

On a future post... i'll discuss my tips on photographing fair/sunny weather.

Pollen Season

(Avalon, Catalina Island - August 1983)

There is downside to the spring colors in southern California.

...Pollen/Allergies...

Pollen can make life miserable for many of us here in southern California. But...there is a few steps that can be taken to relieve some of the symptoms from seasonal allergies.

• Besure...to check and replace filters in your heating and cooling unit.
• Avoid being outdoors at sunrise and sunset...when pollens are at its peak.
• On windy days... avoid the outdoors if possible.
• Keep windows closed (especially in the early morning and late afternoon/early evening hours).
• Shower often (Pollen is collected collects in the hair and scalp).

Beginning to bloom

(Catalina Island - Spring of 1999)

Many southern Californian's are noticing the colors of springs. Blooming flowers and trees. With the recent rainfall this will only add to the color show.

It looks like some of us may see a shower or two during Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night. But... rain showers will be widely scattered and shouldn't amount to much (generally in the 0.05 to 0.10" range).

There is a downside to the spring color show... More on that on Wednesday.

Nice start to the week!

(Beverly Hills - August 1983)

Mostly sunny skies with slightly milder temperatures are in the forecast for the beginning of the week. There is a slight possibility of a few light rain showers in San Diego county this morning. Only Trace to 0.02" amounts expected.

Daytime temperatures will range from the 50s to the lower 60s in the valleys to the upper 50s to the lower 60s coastal areas and around 60 degrees Downtown L.A and San Diego. lower to middle 50s in Santa Barbara.

The winds will be light (mainly under 10 mph).

sun and gloom

Vincent Thomas Bridge/Port of Los Angeles

Weather across the southland will begin to improve across the southland beginning late Sunday evening.

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue through Sunday evening...then becoming isolated late Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Scattered snow showers will continue over the mountain areas through Sunday evening then decreasing and becoming isolated after midnight. The snow level will be around 3,500' or so...with the possibility of 1 to 2" accumulation in some spots.

Looking at Monday... A return to mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. There may be a stray snow shower or two through mid morning over the mountains (especially the San Gabriels and San Bernardino's). Temperatures with be about 5 to 7 degrees warmer from what they were on Sunday.

Latest forecasts and advisories can be obtained at:
Southland Weather

Dateline: March 12th, 1928 near the city of Saugus
Three minutes before midnight, the St. Francis Dam's 200-foot-high concrete wall crumpled, sending 12 billion gallons of water down San Francisquito Canyon north of Saugus and killing at least 450 people. Water flooded whole towns. The accident was attributed at the time to engineering errors by William Mulholland, the father of Los Angeles' municipal water system, who had built the dam between 1924 and 1926 to hold a year's supply of water for the city 50 miles to the south. More recent research has shifted the blame to an ancient landslide.

Courtesy of: KTLA TV and the Los Angeles Times

Is this California or Alaska?

Cloudy evening at Santa Monica Beach

Is this California or Alaska?... That's the question southern Californian's are asking this weekend...as very cold winter storm continues to effect the region.

Saturday night...
Scattered to numerous showers with isolated thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms will have the potential of producing small hail. Also the potential exist for brief heavy showers and gusty winds to 35 mph through Saturday evening.

Snow showers will continue to fall over the mountains and high desert regions of the southland during Saturday night. Hourly snowfall rates at times will be around 1". Gusty winds over the mountains will produce reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow.

Sunday...
Scattered showers will continue with isolated thunderstorms possible. Snow showers will be possible over the mountains and portions of the high desert regions. But...diminishing trend in shower activity will be noticed on Sunday.

Stay up-to-date on the wintry weather at:
Southland Weather

Winter in southern California

An storm system with unseasonably cold air will influence southern California's weather for at least the next couple days.

For the rest of Friday...
Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms across the region. Hourly rainfall rates may exceed 1/4" at times. Snowfall rates over the mountain areas above 3,000' may reach 1" per hour. Locally higher amounts possible during any thunderstorm activity that may occur.

Along with the precipitaion... gusty winds will continue to blow across the region. Winds may exceed 40 mph at times over the mountains and most desert locations. Local breezy conditions can be except over the coastal and valley sections.


For Friday night...
Widespread precipitation is expected over the entire region during this period. Rain may be heavy at times for mudslides and possible flooding over the recent burn areas of Los Angeles and Venture counties during the overnight hours. Snow will be likely down to the 2,500 to 3,000' level which would put the snow in the high desert region.

For Saturday...
Widespread rain and snow will continue... locally heavy at times. The potential for mudslides or flooding will continue to exist over the recent burn areas. Snow at times will lower to 1,500 to 2,500'. In which will mean snow will even be possible over the foothills of the coastal valley areas.

Winds will continue to be an issued (especially over the mountain and high desert areas). Winds at times will gusts to 40 mph. It may also be breezy at times elsewhere...especially during any thunderstorm activity that may occur.


Check the lastest watches, warnings, advisories and forecasts at...
Southland Weather

A Big Change on the Way!

(Palos Verdes Peninsula)

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with gusty winds for Thursday night as southern California transititions into a cold and wet, snowy weather pattern that will last through much of the weekend.

For Thursday night...
Partly to mostly cloudy skies across the entire region for Thursday night. Gusty winds for the much of the area. The exception will be coastal Orange and San Diego counties.

In some locations along the coast, over all mountain areas and over the high deserts winds may gust between 40 to 45 mph Thursday night.

As for precipitation...
It now looks like the precipitation it will old for the most until Friday morning...except there might be enough moisture inplace over the northern portions of southern California for a few rain or snow showers over the mountains Thursday night. The snow level in these areas will be around 4,500 feet. Also a slight chance of showers over Orange and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.

Outlook for Friday through Sunday...
The cold trough of low pressure will produce widespread precipitation across the region beginning Friday. Cold and unstable area may trigger a few isolated thunderstorms (especially Friday afternoon and evening). Then for Saturday through Sunday... Unseasonably cold weather will spread across the southland along with this will be very low snow levels 2,000 to 3,000'. Locally down to 1,500' if any thunderstorms occur. Snow may total up to a foot by late Sunday over the mountains and up to 4" possible over the high deserts. Snow even may fall in the Santa Monica mountains and the foothills of the coastal valleys.

So it may be a good idea to keep your camera handy for this potentially rare site in southern California this weekend!!!

Keep up-to-date on the latest forecasts at:
Southland Weather

In between storms

(Coronado Bridge)

Much of the southland is in between storm systems this Wednesday. There will be a few lingering light showers this morning over San Diego county. Otherwise... mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 50s to the middle 60s most coastal and valley locations.

It may be a bit breezy at times (especially this morning) through and below passes and canyons. Gusts to over 25 mph are possible.

It appears that southern California is in for winter weather late this week through early next week as a cold Alaskan trough of low pressure digs into the region. Several impulses will rotate in and bring scattered to numerous showers with snow levels at times dropping to below 2,000 feet. This will mean a possibility of snow showers falling as a low as the foothills of the coastal valleys.

Temperatures this weekend in many places of the southland may not reach above 50 degrees. Combined with the gusty winds...this will make for wind chills in the upper 30s to the middle 40s during the daytime hours.

In the mountains... daytime temperatures will be in the 20s to the lower 30s with wind chills in the single digits and teens.

More detailed information on this upcoming change in the weather can be accessed at...
Southland Weather

Unusual sight

(Dolphins - Pismo Beach, August 2001)

During Yesterday(Monday) afternoon... several sightings of schools of dolphins just off the coast of Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

As of the "Portland-Like" weather here in southern California Tuesday morning...
This is being caused by a Catalina Eddy rotating low-level moisture into L.A. county. With moist air inplace from Monday storm system...this is resulting in this deep stratus deck and areas of dense fog and drizzle Tuesday morning.

Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night...

Another in a series of impulses with result in a slight chance of isolated light rain showers or sprinkles across southern California through Tuesday night. Rainfall amounts will be around 0.05" to 0.10" at the most.

Gloomy start of the week

(Some where off the San Diego County Coast)

Updated...
4:30pm/pst, Monday, March 6th, 2005

Showers will be on the decrease from west to east across southern California Monday night. Skies will become partly cloudy with lingering isolated light showers or sprinkles possible during the overnight and early morning hours.

There will another weak impulse that will effect the southland Tuesday and Tuesday night. Only expecting isolated light rain showers with this one; only expecting 20% coverage of the precipitation.

A cold storm system will be effecting the region late this week and over the weekend. This system is not expected to tap any sub-tropical moisture...so precipitation won't be heavy...but with cold temperatures that will be inplace as this storm moves in...some of the precipitation may fall as snow in the valleys of inland southern California. So areas like the Inland Empire and the high deserts may see some of the white stuff.

More on this on future updates.

One more day...

(Late Winter Sunset)

One more day of nice southern California weather.

Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies Sunday with temperatures mostly in the 60s this afternoon.

Then...an extended period of unsettled weather will begin Monday with with around round of rain expected.

At this times it appears that amounts will total around 1/2" with this system by Monday night for coastal and valley portions. Amounts exceeding 1" possible along favored mountain slopes.

Minor Earthquake early Sunday morning in the Inland Empire...
Magnitude: 3.4
Time: 2:43am/pst Sunday morning
Epicenter: 3 mi. WNW of Glen Avon.

Beautiful Saturday

(Shell Beach)

Another beautiful Saturday for southern California!

A brief break in the stormy weather pattern will give southern Californians a chance to catch up on outdoor activities during Saturday.

The southern California forecast calls for partly cloudy skies but temperatures will remain below seasonal normals. High temperatures in the lower to middle 60s coastal area and in the middle 50s to the middle 60s in the valleys.

Rainy Friday

A few lingering showers across the southland Friday night.

The lingering effects of Friday morning's storm system will be felt through Friday evening across much of southern California with a chance of widely scattered mainly light showers. Snow showers will continue over the mountains (mainly around the 4,000' level). But... no additional accumulation expected.

Precipitation for the most part should clear southern California by 9 or 10:00pm Friday evening...giving the southern California region another beautiful weekend!

Weak storm system

(Century City)

--Update: 9:30am/pst, March 2nd, 2006--

Remainder of Today (Thursday):

The first of the two system has fizzled out and will effect primary areas from Santa Barbara county northward today. Only Trace to 0.05" rainfall amounts expected there.

For the remainder of southern California... look for mostly sunny skies...gradually giving way to partly cloudy skies this afternoon...with temperatures mainly 60s...coastal and valley areas.

Tonight (Thursday night) through Friday:

Next system will begin to spread light to moderate rain across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties during the late evening and overnight hours the will move the remainder of southern California during the morning hours Friday.

Rainfall amounts will be light...mostly around 1/4" with some isolated spots maybe recieving a 1/3 to 1/2". Snow levels will drop to pass levels by early Friday morning. Which may make for slippery driving conditions on the 5 FWY through the Grapevine and the 15 FWY in the Cajon Pass.

A decreasing trend in the precipitation will take place from west to east during the afternoon hours Friday.

There will be a break in the stormy weather this weekend then a return to wet weather early next week.

Rain drops

(Rainy morning - Tuesday, Feb. 28th, 2006)

Here's a look at some of the more significant rainfall totals from the storm...

• Tanbark (L.A. Co.): 5.96"
• Matilija Dam (Ventura Co.): 5.16"
• Palomar Observatory (San Diego Co.): 5.05"
• San Marcos Pass (Santa Barbara Co.): 4.57"
• Devore Fire Station (San Bernardino Co.): 4.05"
• Rose Valley (Ventura Co.): 4.02"
• Idyllwild (Riverside Co.): 3.10"

Another system will have an impact on southern California's weather beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through most of Friday.

Some forecast rainfall amounts...

• Coastal areas: 1/4 to 3/4"
• Valley areas: 1/2 to 1.00"
• Mountain areas: 3/4 to 1.25"
• Desert areas: less than 1/4"

A brief look at next week...
A series of storm systems are expected trach from the eastern Pacific into southern and central California... with the first one effecting the region sometime Monday or early Tuesday.

This system will have a chance of significant rainfall and possible flooding and mudslides.