Dust devils

(Mojave Grave Yard-August, 2000)

A common sight when traveling through the deserts of southern California during the summer time are "dust devils". They look like a small tornado.

But how can this be with totally sunny skies?

Look no further...

"What is a dust devil?" is a special page at southland weather that will explain everything you need to know this weather phenomenon.

Warm weather continues

(Morro Bay - September 2000)

No change in the current weather pattern forseen.

Sunny skies and warm temperatures will continue for the next few days.

There will be late night and morning low clouds and fog near the beaches in some locations.

Daytime temperatures will warm to around 80 downtown Los Angeles, middle 60s to the middle 70s at the beaches. 80s to the middle 90s out in the valleys.

Memorial Day

Southern California will see a mostly sunny and rather warm Memorial Day.

Temperatures will reach into the upper 70s to the lower 80s Downtown L.A.,
middle 60s to the lower 70s at the beaches, upper 70s to the upper 80s out in the valleys.

If your heading into the mountains for Memorial Day... expect temperatures in the 70s for the most part with afternoon winds 15 to 25 mph at times.

Observe all fire restrictions that are in effect... including restrictions on BBQ's and campfires.

Warmer temperatures

(Sunrise - May 24th, 2006)

A mostly sunny and warmer Sunday for the southland.

Temperatures will reach into the 70s at the coast, lower 80s downtown L.A. and in the 80s in the valleys.

Winds will be on the decrease across southern California Sunday. The strongest winds will occur through and below passes and canyons of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties during the morning hours.

If your planning on heading for the beach Sunday. Beware of the continued threat of rip currents...especially along the Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego County beaches. This threat is expected subside by Memorial Day.

Wind & fire

(Smoke Filled Sunrise - Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006)

With it being a long...holiday. Many will being heading to the great outdoors... such as the mountains.

Be very carefull if you plan on having a campfire...as conditions are very dry. As all it takes is one spark or flying ember. Also...with the high winds predicted for the mountains for the most of the weekend...this will just add to the fire danger.

Many state and national recreation areas have restrictions regarding campfires and bbq's.

Have a "safe" holiday weekend!

Rip current threat

(La Jolla Shores - May 25th, 2005)

High risk for RIP CURRENTS along the southern California coast from Ventura county south to the San Diego county coastline through the holiday weekend.

It is STRONGLY advised that swimmers/surfers to remain onshore during these conditions.

Beach/Surf Forecast

Early start to the fire season

(Streaks of Smoke in the Sky - Monday, May 22nd, 2006)

Wednesday was a busy one for southland firefighters.

Brush fires broke out in three seperate areas of Los Angeles County from Agoura Hills to the west, Santa Clarita to the north and Rowland Heights to the east.

Three firefighters had to be treated at the scene for heat exhaustion while battling a seven-acre brush fire in Agoura Hills.

Dirty beach sand?

(Santa Monica Beach - July 25th, 2005)

A new U.C.L.A. study shows that polluted seawater is not the only threat for southland beach goers.

Researchers say that high levels of bacteria has been detected at some southern California beaches.

Some of the beaches that researchers have detected high-levels of bacteria from Redondo Beach to Malibu.

Some of the worst offenders were sheltered side of Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica Beach near the pier and Topanga Beach in Malibu. Sheltered or enclosed beaches showed persistent elevated levels of bacteria.

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Earthquake in the low desert...

A series of earthquakes shook the low desert areas about halfway between San Diego and Yuma Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

The strongest quake measured 5.2 at: 9:21pm Tuesday evening.

No damage or injuries reported.

Below normal hurricane season predicted!

(Low Cloud deck - Monday morning, May 22nd, 2006)

NOAA released it's 2006 eastern Pacific hurricane forecast on Monday.

They are predicting a below average season this year with 12 to 16 tropical storms, of which 6 to 8 could become hurricanes, including 1 to 3 major hurricanes of category 3 of greater.

The prediction of the below normal hurricane season for the eastern Pacific is mainly due to the neutral
"El Niño/Southern Oscillation".

Unusual May Rains

(City lights reflecting off the lowerning clouds and mist)
*Photo taken: 4:35am/pdt, Monday, May 22nd, 2006*

***Rainfall records established on Monday, May 22nd, 2006***

Downtown Los Angeles:
0.67"
(This breaks the old record of 0.33 set in 1921).

LAX Airport:
0.46"
(This breaks the old record of 0.01" set in 1947).

Long Beach Airport:
0.29"
(This is the first rain ever on this date).

Burbank (Bob Hope Airport):
0.47"
(This breaks the old record Trace set in 1966).

Lancaster:
0.01"
(This breaks the old record Trace set in 1974)

Pasadena:
0.92"
(This breaks the old record 0.04" set in 1999)

NWSFO in Oxnard:
0.22"
(This breaks the old record 0.01" set in 1958)

John Wayne Airport:
0.58"
(The first time it rain on this date)

Ontario Airport:
0.43"
(The first time it rain on this date)

Riverside Airport:
0.41"
(This breaks the old record 0.04" set in 1933)

San Diego Lindbergh Airport:
0.77"
(This breaks the old record of 0.36" set in 1921).

Palm Springs Airport:
0.01"
(The first time it rain on this date)

Idyllwild Fire Station:
0.41"
(This breaks the old record of 0.02" set in 1992)

Showery Sunday

(Morning clouds - Saturday, May 20th, 2006)

An upper level storm and associated cool front will make it onshore during the overnight hours.

***Update: 3:30pm/pdt, Sunday, May 21st, 2006***

Sunday evening through early Monday morning...
Rain will overspread the southland through the night time hours. Rainfall may be heavy at times over Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Due to the potential of flooding and debris flows...the NWS in Oxnard has issued "Flash Flood Watches" for the burn areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties beginning Sunday evening and continuing through Late Sunday night over Santa Barbara County...and through Monday morning in Ventura and L.A. Counties.

Snow will also be a possibility at some high elevation communities.

The chance of thunderstorms will increase during the overnight hours. Thunderstorms will have the capability of produce... gusty winds, heavy rains, frequent lightning and the possibility of isolated waterspouts over the coastal waters.

And for Monday...
Rain along with a chance of thunderstorms during the morning hours...will diminish to scattered showers from west to east across the southland by the early afternoon hours.

As for the forecast rainfall amounts with this system...
Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties:
1.00 to 2.00" coastal and valley areas,
Some south facing mountain slopes may get amounts close to 5 inches,
less than 0.50" for the Antelope Valley.

Orange, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties:
0.50 to 1.00" coastal and valley areas,
1.00 to 2.00" expected in the mountains,
0.25 to 0.50" possible in the high deserts.
less than 0.25" expected in the low deserts

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or visit...
Southland Weather

Storm inching closer

(Pismo Beach at Twilight)

***Update: 3:35pm/pdt, Saturday, May 20th, 2006***
Clouds will be on the increase across much of the southland Saturday night.

There will be a slight risk for showers late tonight over the Santa Barbara County.

Rain will gradually increase over southern California. Reaching Los Angeles county sometime during the late morning or afternoon hours. The rain will continue to spread across the remainder of the southland during the afternoon hours Sunday...with widespread rain expected Sunday night through Monday morning. Rain is expected to turn to showers during Monday afternoon.

At this times... models are suggesting amounts will be in the range of 0.50 to 1.50" from L.A. County...northward.

In Orange, San Diego County and the Inland Empire amounts will be in the 0.25 to 0.50" range.

Locally heavier amounts are likely along the foothills and south/southwest facing mountains slopes.

Snow will be possible over the higher elevations of the mountains with accumulation possible.

The potential continues to exist for isolated thunderstorms. Some of these storms may produce... gusty winds, small hail, dangerous lightning and locally heavy rains. Funnel clouds or waterspouts are a possibility over the coastal waters. There is also a slight possibility of even a brief tornado over the Los Angeles basin.

Continue to check back here for updates on this situation!

For more frequent updates visit Southland Weather!

Mountain tstorms

(Towing Cumulus clouds - 10:50 am, May 18th, 2006)

Like the past couple of afternoon... There will be a slight chance of afternoon and early evening thunderstorms over the mountains and high deserts on Friday.

But... unlike the past couple of days... the storms that develop Friday will primarly be in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county mountain areas and in the Antelope valley.

***Updated at: 4:40pm/pdt Friday, May 19th, 2006***
There's a major change late in the weekend... back to winter like weather.

A fairly strong upper level trough of low pressure (presently over the eastern Pacific) will move inland Sunday.

This system will bring widespread rain to the southland beginning Sunday afternoon and continue into Monday morning.

It's still up in the air how much precipitation will fall. But... the potential does exists for up to 1.00" over some coastal and valley locations. And as much as 1 to 3" possible along some coastal foothills and south-facing mountain slopes. There will also be risk of isolated thunderstorms with this system along with the likelyhood of gusty winds (especially at the time of the frontal passage).

Snow levels will lower over the mountains with the possibility of several inches of snow in some locations.

Further updates as needed!

Colorful Palms

(California Incline - Santa Monica)

More of the same expected Thursday...

Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies excepted across the southland during Thursday...except for morning low clouds and fog...coastal and valley areas.

Don't rule out isolated thunderstorms over the mountain and desert areas during Thursday afternoon and early evening.

On Wednesday... a lightning strike sparked a brush fire in the Antelope Valley.

As for the daytime high temperatures on Thursday...
Coastal areas... 60s and 70s (middle 70s downtown L.A.)
Valley areas... upper 70s and 80s (except in the lower to middle 90s in the valleys of the Inland Empire).

Looking ahead...
A trought of low pressure may make for some interesting weather this weekend over the southland.

Still a bit early on what effects this will have here in southern California. But...the potential does exist for at least some shower and thunderstorm activity.

More details on this on later posts!

Out fishing...

(Fishing next to the Santa Monica Pier)

Nice weather for just about anything you want do outdoors this Wednesday.

Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies...except for the usual low clouds and fog during the morning hours.

High temperatures Wednesday afternoon...
Coastal areas... 60s to the lower 70s
Valley areas... middle 70s to the middle 80s
...except middle 80s to the middle 90s in the valleys of the Inland Empire.

Light and variable winds expected.

Full Flower Moon

Haze/Smog and the early morning desert sunshine made for this pinkish...
"Flower" moon photo on Sunday.

Photo was taken with digital camera while using the following settings...

ISO: 200
Shutter Speed: 1/250

Pacific Tropical Weather Season Begins.

(An early morning moon set)

Today is the official start of the 2006 eastern Pacific tropical weather season.

Only once...in September of 1939 southern California took a direct hit from a Tropical Storm.

Learn more...why storms don't strike the southland on our new page...
"it never storms in southern California".

And stay up-to-date on the tropics on our...
"eastern Tropical Pacific weather page".

Happy Mother's Day!

(Re-Colorized Photo of Avalon, Catalina Island)

Nice day for all southern California mother's today!

The usual morning low clouds and fog along the coast and in the valleys...then becoming mostly sunny this afternoon...except partly cloudy skies along the Orange and San Diego coast.

High temperatures will range from the middle 60s to the lower 70s at the coast...to the upper 70s to the middle 80s in most valley areas...except upper 80s to the lower 90s in the San Bernardino/Riverside area.

Out in the low deserts... temperatures are likely to top the century mark later today.

Landscaped freeways

(The 163 Freeway - Balboa Park)

Why are some southland freeways landscaped so beautifully?

The primary reason for this... is for pollution control. Plants, trees and flowers naturally absorb pollution in return this somewhat limits the amount of pollution that excapes into the higher levels of the atmosphere.

But... during the past ten years or so... a lot of the landscaping has been removed. This is due to water conservation or for widening the freeways.

Hot inland areas

(Hot/Hazey Afternoon on the 15 FWY - Cajon Pass)

Sunny, hazey and hot conditions will continue in the valleys, mountains and deserts for the next several days.

Take precuation if you plan on being outdoors in these areas...such as stay in shadey areas...and drink plenty of water.

Thursday afternoon... several teenagers were overcome by the heat at San Fernando High School during an outdoor concert. One of the teenagers were hospitalized.

At the time of the concert temperatures were in the middle 80s.

So...be careful if you have to be out in the heat!!

As for the coastal areas...including downtown Los Angeles... The usual night and morning low clouds and fog with even some drizzle possible...then clearing to the beaches by afternoon.

Afternoon temperatures will be in the 60s at the coast to the lower to middle 70s downtown Los Angeles.

Sunsets and colors

Why are some sunsets so colorful...and others are not?

The simple answer to this question is...

Scattering of different wavelengths of sunlight by the particles and water vapor in the air.
A large amount of particles tend to scatter out blue light, giving us a pink to red sunset.
The red sunset can be washed out to whitish by heavy haze or high relative humidity, which will scatter all wavelengths more equally.

More beautiful sunsets!

As for Thursday's weather...in fact the rest of the week:
Night and morning coastal and valley low clouds and patchy dense fog...then clearing to the beaches by afternoon.

Afternoon high temperatures...
60s at the beaches...
70s downtown L.A....
and in the mostly in the 80s to the middle 90s in the valley areas.

More night and morning gloom

More of the same...

Night and morning low clouds and fog at the coast extending inland to the valleys.
Then clearing to the beaches by midday.

High temperatures...
60s at the beaches,
lower to middle 70s downtown L.A.
and in the middle 70s to the middle 80s in the valley areas.

No change in sight for at least the next week.

More low clouds and fog

(Gloomy Spring evening in Santa Monica)

No change in the prevailing weather pattern...

The "Catalina Eddy" will continue the ongoing marine layer over the coastal and valley areas of the southland through the rest of the week.

Expect night and morning low clouds and fog...with only partial clearing expected during the afternoon's near the beaches.

The marine layer will keep the coastal area temperatures on the cool side (mainly in the upper 50s to the upper 60s).

But... in the valleys...where there will be afternoon hazey sunshine...the temperatures will top out in the 70s...except in the lower to middle 80s in the valleys of the Inland Empire.

Same ol' pattern

(Somewhere of the coast of San Diego County)

Same old pattere to persist across the southland for the entire week. High pressure will dominate the region through at least Friday.

A weak circulation (Catalina Eddy) will continue the gloom along the coast...extending into the valley areas during the overnight and morning hours. This will help to keep the coastal area on the cool side...mainly in the 60s to the lower 70s. With afternoon sunshine expected in the valley areas...this will help them reach into the middle 70s to the middle 80s each afternoon.

If you want hot...head out into the low deserts this week... temperatures will likely be in the 90s each day. Only getting down into the middle 60s to the lower 70s at night.

Cool spring in southern Cal.

It's been a cooler than normal spring so far in the southland.

From February 15th through May 5th (80 days):
The mean temperature for downtown Los Angeles has been below normal for 67 days, exactly normal for 2 days and above normal for only 5 days.

The high temperature exceeded 70 degrees at downtown L.A. for only 8 days in April of 2006...far below the normal 16 days during a typical April.

This above mentioned data holds true for many other observation points across the southland.

Not as much gloom for some

Not as much gloom for some during the afternoon hours.

Expecting night and morning low cloud...fog...and some patchy drizzle in spots through this weekend. But... skies will clear to the beaches from Los Angeles County northward during the afternoon hours.

Afternoon temperatures will range from the 60s at the beaches to the 70s in the valley areas.
Maybe a few degrees warmer (especially valley areas) on Sunday.

Swimmers and surfers... be advised of rip currents this weekend along the coast of Orange County.

To learn more about rip currents...including important safety information...besure to visit Southland Weather's special report on "Rip Currents".

Risk of Rip Currents

(Rip Currents - La Jolla Shores)

Swimmers and surfers are strongly advised to remain onshore through Saturday along the coastal waters of Orange County...due to a high risk of Rip Currents.

These conditions have the potential of impacting other beaches (especially the beaches of San Diego County) on Saturday. But as of now...no official forecast advising of the potential of Rip Currents has been issued from the NWS.

The gloom continues...

(Gloomy May Evening at Seaport Village San Diego)

No real let up expected over the next several in the persistant marine layer.

from the coast to the lower slopes of the mountains... look for low clouds with patchy area of fog and drizzle through the weekend.

Temperatures will remain in the 60s for the most part. Maybe some lower to middle 70s out in the valleys of the Inland Empire.

Socked in...

(Low clouds over the Vicent Thomas Bridge)

Widespread gloom extending inland to the mountains Wednesday.
The Marine layer is apx. 3,100 feet thick. Which will mean that the fog will extend through some of the passes and canyons.

Along with low clouds and fog... areas of light rain or drizzle are possible.

There gloom is expected to stick around through Thursday morning...before there's any chance of seeing a peak of the sun.

I know this isn't weather related but...on this date back in 1939 Union Station opened it's doors to the public in downtown Los Angeles.

Record April Rainfall for some of us

(Summer Monsoon tstorm in the Mojave)

The National Weather Service in Oxnard on Monday reports that both LAX and Santa Barbara Airports had record rainfall during the month of April.

LAX had 1.63" of rain during April breaking the old record of 1.35" set back in 1999.

Santa Barbara Airport had 4.86" of rain in April. The breaks the old record of 2.83" set in the year 2000.

The May Gray

(Gloomy May San Diego AM)

The May Gray is here to stay a while here in the southland.

All areas west of the mountains will see low clouds and areas of fog (locally dense at times) through the week. The marine layer will clear to near the coast by the early afternoon hours. But will once again cloud up by 4 or 5 in the afternoon at most beaches.

Local drizzle is also possible in some areas...especially the far south coast including Orange and San Diego counties...and the valleys of the Inland Empire and San Diego County.

The marine layer will keep it cool at least along the coast and several miles inland during the next few days...that's in contrast to the heat that the southland desert areas are having.

Monday's high temperatures are expected to range from the upper 80s to near 100 with no let up in the heat expected all week.