On this Date in 1955...

(5 FWY - Northbound - Los Angeles)

Sept. 30, 1955: Los Angeles experienced its first "Smog Red" alert after the ozone count in Pasadena rose from 0.56 parts of ozone per million parts of air to 0.65.

Air Pollution Study

(101 FWY southbound - Hollywood)

The Los Angeles Basin is once again the smog capital of the U.S., beating out Houston and the San Joaquin Valley.

As of Sept. 27, the Southland exceeded the federal ozone health standard on 86 days, compared with 83 days during 2005 and 88 days in 2004, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Green Buildings

(Anaheim)

The City of Irvine has approved a program for environmental friendly "Green Buildings"

Some of the suggestions to be used in these environmental friendly buildings are to include switching to energy-efficient lights and providing bicycle racks.

Read more...

NOAA WX Radios in Schools

NOAA/NWS will be supplying all 97,000 public schools in America with weather radios.

The main purpose for the NOAA/NWS to be giving away these radios...is too give schools an early warning system for severe weather or other hazards.

NOAA weather radio covers apx. 97% of the nation with over 950 radio stations.

Here in the southland... NOAA weather radio covers virtually the entire region.

More about NOAA Weather radio here in southern California.

Climate Catastrophe?

(Downtown L.A. Seen from the 10 FWY)

Global temperature highest in thousands of years?
...The planet's temperature has climbed to levels not seen in thousands of years, warming that has begun to affect plants and animals, researchers report in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Earth has been warming at a rate of 0.36 degree Fahrenheit per decade for the last 30 years.

Read more on this story...

Some history

(Coronado Island)

On this day in 1997...
Large Swells from a distant storm in the Gulf of Alaska...effects from Hurricane Nora in the eastern Tropical Pacific...and high tide produced 5 to 8 foot waves into Orange County.

The result was flooding along a 14-block stretch of Seal Beach.
Limited damage was reported.

Hot, dry conditions - Sunday

(Chino Hills - Near Diamond Bar)

Hot, dry weather will continue over the southland Sunday as high pressure over the west will continue the offshore flow.

Gusty winds of up to 45 mph are possible through and below passes and canyons...primarily Los Angeles and Ventura counties through at least early afternoon Sunday.

This will make conditions difficult for firefighters fighting the 121,000 acre "Day Fire" in Ventura county.

Not a good combination

(Visible Satellite Image of the Day Fire Smoke Plume)

Heat, low humidities and strong winds NOT a good combination for brushfires currently burning in southern California.

Temperatures will reach into 80s and 90s this weekend over the valleys of southern California.

Humidities will drop to in the upper single digits and 10s during the afternoon hours over the valleys and foothill areas.

Local wind gusts to over 50 mph possible through and below passes and canyons of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties (especially Saturday).

Santa Ana Winds to Return

(Along the 15 FWY - Near Temecula)

Strong Santa Ana winds are on tap beginning this evening and continuing through at least Saturday morning.

The strongest winds will occur through and below passes and canyons of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Wind gusts to 55 mph are possible in these areas.

Further updates on this situation at...
Southland Weather.

More Winds on the way

(Smoky morning skies - September 20th, 2006)

Fire crews in the southland will try to get control of the 3 brushfires currently burning in southern California before another round of high winds.

These high winds will begin Friday evening and continue through Saturday morning.

The strongest of winds will be through and below the passes and canyons of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

The NWS has issued a High Wind Watch for the above mentioned areas.

Cooler conditions

(Seaport Village - Downtown San Diego)

Cooler temperatures will prevail in most areas on Wednesday across the southland...the exception will be some of the valleys of the Inland Empire where temperatures will top out in the 90s.

Downtown Los Angeles will see high temperatures in the upper 70s to the lower 80s.

Coastal areas... middle 60s to the middle 70s.

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For time-to-time... I will post one of my favorite southern California website's

One must see southern California website is...
"Streets of Los Angeles"

This site features a large collection of photos of the "Real Los Angeles".

Here you will find a virtual tour, wallpapers, screensavers, greeting cards, travel information, maps, books, and destination links.

Brush Fire - - Status

(Smoky Evening)

The Day Fire is still only 15% contained at 80,000 acres as of Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile the 2 fires burning in the Inland Empire are mostly contained.

Not much help...

(Pre-dawn sky)

Hot, dry conditions will hamper fire fighting efforts here in the southland.

Three brushfires currently burning here in the southland.

The largest fire in the "Day Fire" burning along the Ventura/L.A. County line. As of late Sunday the fire has consumed apx. 60,000 acres and is 15% contained.

The other two fires are located in the Banning area of Riverside county. Both fire have charred apx. 1,500 acres each.

Temperatures will remain in the 80s and 90s across the valleys of SoCal Monday with continued low dewpoint readings.

Sunday at the beach

(Santa Monica beach)

Beaches may be a bit crowded Sunday...as temperatures are expected reach into the 80s and 90s for much of the southland.

The valleys will see temperatures in the middle 80s to the upper 90s,
Downtown Los Angeles in the upper 80s and the beaches...
upper 60s to the upper 70s.

There is a high risk of rip currents along coastal waters of Orange County Sunday.

Warmer temperatures for Saturday

(Infrared Photo - Sunrise)

Warmer temperatures for the southland on Saturday.

Temperatures will range in the middle 70s to the upper 80s out in the valleys... upper 70s to near 80 downtown L.A. and in the middle 60s to the middle 70s at the beaches.

Racing against time

(Smoky morning)

Fire crews fighting the "Day Fire" near Castaic are racing against time trying to contain the 30,000 acre plus fire...as Santa Ana winds are expected to be on the increase by Sunday.

Winds in the fire area may gust to over 35 mph come Sunday afternoon.

As of Thursday evening... the "Day Fire" is 30% contained.

El Niño Returns

-NOAA satellite image of sea surface temperatures anomalies as of Sept. 11, 2006-

From NOAA/NWS:
Scientists at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center reported today that El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are likely to continue into early 2007. Ocean temperatures increased remarkably in the equatorial Pacific during the last two weeks. "Currently, weak El Niño conditions exist, but there is a potential for this event to strengthen into a moderate event by winter,"

Here in the southland, it's still quite early to determine the impacts of the El Niño.

But...it has the potential of bring much needed rains come January and February...if the El Niño fully develops.

But at this time...it's not expected reach the intensity of the 1998 El Niño which was responsible for above normal rainfall that winter.

Castaic "Day" fire (Update)

(Smoky Sunrise - September 12th, 2006)

The "Day Fire" near Castaic has charred apx. 24,943 acres as of Tuesday evening and was 25 per-cent contained.

The flames intensified late Tuesday and forced road closures (including a small portion of the 5 FWY).

Cool along the coast, hot inland areas

(Contrails - condensation trail left behind jet aircrafts)

Hot or cold... it will all matter where your located in southern California this Tuesday.

As temperatures will struggle to get above 70 degress along the immediate coast where the marine layer will be slow to burn off.

Meanwhile...
Hot, sunny conditions are on tap for the valleys for Tuesday...as temperatures will be in the lower 90s to the lower 100s.

Los Padres Fire Update

(Smoky Morning)

Fire Continues to burn in the Los Padres National Forest Monday.

As of late Sunday... the fire has charred apx. 13,646 acres.

12 per-cent contained.

Continued dangers at southland beaches

(Summer afternoon - Newport Beach)

High danger of "Rip Currents" continue at southland beaches Sunday.

The south facing beaches of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Diego county will be most prone to these conditions.

It is strongly advised that everybody stay out of the coastal waters until the danger subsides.

Caution for surfers & swimmers

(Santa Monica Beach)

High risk for "Rip Currents" along south facing beaches of southern California this weekend.

It is strongly advised that swimmers and surfers stay onshore.

Cooler and gloomy weather returns...

(Afternoon low clouds at Coronado Beach)

Gloom (low clouds and fog) and cooler temperatures at on tap for the southland coastal and valley areas the next couple of days.

Some areas may not the sun at all...especially the beaches of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Temperatures at the beaches will likely not get out of the 60s in the above mentioned locates Friday.

Inland areas (valleys) will see temperatures in the upper 70s to the 80s (except lower 90s possible in some valley locations of the Inland Empire).

For downtown Los Angeles... temperatures will be in the upper 70s during the early to mid afternoon hours.

Cooler temperatures

(Seaport Village - San Diego)

A return to extensive night and morning low clouds and fog... for the coastal areas and even some valley locations for the rest of this week.

Along with the marine layer...cooler temperatures! Temperatures may struggle to get out of the 70s for downtown Los Angeles (especially on Friday).

Brush fires

(Smoky Sunrise)

Southland fire crews have been busy fightning two large brush fires.

The largest brushfire is burning in the Los Padres national forest near Castaic.

As of Tuesday evening... 1,640 acres have burned.

Another smaller fire is burning in the Cajon Pass near the 15 FWY. As of Tuesday evening apx. 100 acres have been charred.

No Chance...more mtn/desert storms

(Cumulonimbus clouds)

No change from Labor Day... there will be a continue chance of scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms over the southern California mountain and deserts areas. The thunderstorms will be the most numerous over the mountain and desert areas of San Bernardino...Riverside and San Diego Counties.

There is a risk of some of the storms making westward into the valleys of the Inland Empire and San Diego County.

Thunderstorms will have the potential of producing... strong/gusty winds...heavy rains...hail and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.

Updated information available at...
Southland Weather.

Labor Day storms

(Evening Thunderstorms)

Another round of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are expected Labor Day over the mountain and desert areas of southern California. Some of the thunderstorm may spread into the valleys of San Diego County and the Inland Empire.

Thunderstorms will have the potential of producing... strong and gusty winds...heavy rains...hail and dangerous cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes.

Keep updated on this situation at...
Southland Weather.

This day in History...

Sept. 4, 1981: A 5.1 earthquake rocked buildings in downtown Los Angeles, knocking out elevator service and shattering the nerves of residents getting ready to celebrate the city's 200th birthday.

Increased threat of tstorms for some...

(Latest SoCal Doppler Radar Imagery... courtesy of NOAA/NWS)

Tropical Storm "John" will spread moist/unstable air over the southland through Labor Day.
This will increase the threat of afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms over the mountain and desert areas. The thunderstorms will be most numerous over the mountain and deserts of San Diego County.

These storms will have the potential of producing... gusty winds...heavy rains and frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes.

There is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm spreading west into the valleys of San Diego County and the Inland Empire the next couple of days.

Frequent updates on this situation at...
Southland Weather.

Happy 225th Birthday Los Angeles!!!

Saturday Heat

(Desert Sunrise - August 31st, 2006)

The heat is on for Saturday as a fairly strong flow from the east/southeast will bring hot tempereatures for most locations of the southland...except for areas along the immediate coastline.

Temperatures are expected top out around 90 for downtown Los Angeles...
90s to around 109 out in the valleys.

The beaches will stay in the 70s for the most part.

Continuing to watch Hurricane "John"...
Moisture from Hurricane "John" is expected to impact the southland by Labor day.
An increase in humidity for all areas along with cloud cover.
There will be at least a chance for showers and thunderstorms for the mountains and deserts....with a slight possibility of them spilling over into some valley and coastal locations.

For more detailed information on Hurricane "John" visit...
Southland Weather

Hot Friday

(A few morning fair weather cumulus - August 31st, 2006)

Little change from Thursday... Expecting hot temperatures away from the coast with afternoon readings in the lower 100s in many valley locations this afternoon.

Downtown Los Angeles will see afternoon high temperatures in the middle to upper 80s and in the 70s at the beaches.

Keeping an eye on Hurricane "John".
This system has a possibility of spreading moisture into the southland later this holiday weekend.

Some models are suggesting that the increased moisture will spark showers and thunderstorms over the mountain and deserts. Possibly even spreading west over some valley and coast locations by Labor Day.

So... keep checking back here for further updates or visit...
Southland Weather for frequent updates on this situation.