Fully Contained

(Smoky Sunset - Sunday, Oct. 29th, 2006)

The Esperanza fire was 100% contained as of 6:00pm, Monday, October 30th.

4 firefighters loss there lives helping to fight the fire.

Cooler conditions helping firefighting efforts

(Smoky horizon)

Lower temperatures and higher dewpoints are help firefighters with 40,200-acre Esperanza fire.

Fire crews will deal with temperatures on Monday in the upper 60s to the middle 70s and relative humidities 40 to 50 per-cent during the daytime hours.

Winds will be light (generally under 5 mph).

Fire updates at...
Southland WX.

Improving weather conditions for firefighters

(Smoke filled sunrise - June 24th, 2005)

Weather conditions will continue to improve during Sunday for the firefighters on the scene of the +40,000-acre Esperanza fire near Banning.

Sunday's Outlook for the fire area...
Daytime high temperatures... upper 70s to the lower 80s.
Min. daytime relative humidity: 20 to 25%
Wind (20ft): east 10 mph...becoming west 10 mph in the afternoon.

Frequent fire updates at...
Southland Weather.

Slightly improving conditions for firefighters

(Smoky Sunrise - July 14th, 2005)

The offshore flow is diminishing!

This should result in slightly higher relative humidities/dewpoints Saturday along with lighter winds.

Temperatures in the area of the Esperanza fire will reach in the upper 80s to around 90 Saturday afternoon...but lower to the middle to upper 70s on Sunday.

10 to 20 mph winds with gusts to 25 mph at times are in the forecast Saturday...but will be only around 10 mph Sunday.

Complete (updated) fire coverage at...
Southland Weather.

Another rough day for firefighters

(Smoky sunset - July 2nd, 2005)

Another rough day for firefighters fighting the "Esperanza" fire in Riverside County near Cabazon.

Low dewpoint temperatures (5 to 15) combined with warm temperatures (around 90) and gusty winds (at times gusting to over 40 mph).

These conditions may improve slightly over the weekend...but still won't be much of help.



Frequent Brushfire Updates at...
Southland WX.

High winds are blowing

(Chino Hills near Diamond Bar)

High winds and fire danger will be the main weather story over the southland for the remainder of the week...as a strong offshore flow will continue around a high pressure system.

The strongest winds will be felt in the usual spots...through and just below passes and canyons.

If your driving a light weight or a high profile vehicle...use extreme caution.

Also... with the high winds will come the increase threat of brushfires.

Allready early Thursday morning there's been reports of evacuations due to a brush fire in the desert near Palm Springs.

Frequent updates on the winds at...
Southland Weather.

High winds on the way

(San Fernando Valley as seen from the Hollywood Hills)

Fairly strong high pressure will create a moderate off shore flow over southern California beginning later Wednesday evening and continuing through the remainder of the week.

Strong and gusty northeast winds will blow through and below passes and canyons of Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties from late Wednesday evening through Saturday.

Gusts to exceeding 55 mph are likely in some locations.

This will make travel difficult (especially if your driving a light weight or a high profile vehicle).

Some locations of concern will be the 5 Freeway through and just below the Grapevine and the 15 Freeway through the Cajon Pass south to just south of the 215/15 Split.

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

A shower or tstorm possible?

A weak trough moving through the southland will spark a few showers and thunderstorms Tuesday.

These showers and thunderstorms will likely occur over San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Only light precipitation amounts are expected (0.05 to 0.10") through late Tuesday afternoon.

Keep up to date on this situation at...
Southland Weather.

Warm inland Monday

Warm temperatures will continue in the valleys of the southland for the beginning of the week.

High temperatures on Monday will likely reach from the middle 80s to the lower 90s.

Downtown L.A. won't escape the warm temperatures either. Temperatures will be in the middle 80s Monday afternoon.


New to Southland Weather!
Learn about the "Microclimates of southern California"

Continued high risk of rip currents

(Pt. Loma as seen from Coronado)

There is a continued risk for rip currents along the coastal waters of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties on Sunday.

This is likely to continue for the next couple days.

Swimmers and surfers are strongly advised to remain onshore.

New to Southland WX!!
Learn about the diversed "microclimates" of southern California.

Caution at some beaches Saturday

(Newport Beach - July, 2005)

There is a high risk for rip currents along the coastal waters of Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties Saturday.

It is strongly advised that swimmers and surfers stay onshore.

A warm end of the week

(Glowing sunset - October 18th, 2006)

A sunny and warm end to the week for the southland.

High temperatures on Friday will reach into the 80s to around 90 out in the valleys...
middle 80s for downtown Los Angeles and in the...
70s at the beaches.

Through and below passes and canyons... winds will be breezy at times during Friday morning.... 10 to 20 mph.

Warm fall day

(Sunset - October 14th, 2006)

An offshore flow will continue to bring warm temperatures to the southland for the rest of the week.

Thursday temperatures will top out in the 80s in the valleys...
lower to middle 80s downtown Los Angeles...and in the
70s at the beaches.

It will remain breezy to locally windy through and below passes and canyons...especially during the morning hours.

Red Flag warnings for high fire danger remain in effect through Friday.

Howling winds

(Along the 15 FWY - Cajon Pass)

Gusty winds will make for difficult travel Wednesday over portions of Southern California.

The strongest winds will occur through and below passes and canyons of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

2 areas of most concern will the 5 FWY in the Grapevine area and the 15 FWY in and just below the Cajon Pass.

Persons driving light weight or high profile vehicles will be the most affected by these high winds.

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

Gusty winds at times

(Sunset - Oct. 15th, 2006)

Gusty winds will continue Tuesday morning over the mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties...and the deserts of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties.

Local gusts to around 40 to 45 mph are possible.

Looking Ahead...
An moderate offshore wind event is expected over the mountains and valleys of southern California beginning Wednesday and continuing through Friday.

The NWS has already issued a Fire Weather Watch for portions of the southland.

It's also expected they will issue a Wind Advisory.

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

Increasing winds mountains/deserts

(Mojave Wind Farm - 2001)

An upper level disturbance will bring gusty winds (40 to 45 mph) to the some mountain and all desert areas of the southland beginning around sunset this evening and continuing through most of Tuesday.

If are driving a light weight or high profile vehicle on the 10,15 and 58 FWY's use extreme caution.

A widespread offshore wind event is due in by mid-week.

Stay Tuned!

Gloomy Sunday

(Rainy Morning - October 14th, 2006)

Gloomy Sunday on tap for much of the southland as a deep marine layer will hang overhead through out most of the day.

Some areas will see areas of fog and even some light showers or drizzle during the morning hours Sunday.

Temperatures will be cool...mainly in the 60s...except some valley locations may see temperatures in the lower 70s.

Wet Saturday

***Update: 2:35pm/pdt, Saturday, Oct. 14th, 2006***

...Isolated showers possible over Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through Saturday night.

...Rainfall amounts will likely average under a tenth of an inch through early Sunday morning...except some favored mountain slope locations of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties may recieve slightly high amounts.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible.
mainly over San Diego County and in the Inland Empire through Saturday evening.

Sunday's Outlook...
Partly cloudy skies for with temperatures in the 60s at the coast to the upper 60s to the middle 70s out in the valleys.



Continuous updated on the SoCal weather situation at...
Southland Weather

Rain and thunder for Friday the 13th?

(Doppler Radar - SoCal Composite Image)

***Update: 1:25am/pdt, Saturday, Oct. 14th, 2006***

Scattered to numerous showers along with isolated thunderstorms over the southland through early Saturday morning.

Most areas will recieve amounts ranging from a tenth of an inch to third of an inch.

Localized amounts from a half an inch to possibly one inch along favored mountain slopes of Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

Thunderstorms will have the potential of producing... locally gusty winds, brief moderate to locally heavy rain showers and the possibility of waterspouts over the coastal waters.

The NWSFO in Oxnard continues the FLASH FLOOD WATCH for the recent burn areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties has been extended through 6:00am/pdt Saturday morning.

Frequent updates on the rain at...
Southland Weather

Calm Thursday

Mostly sunny and comfortable temperatures for the southland Thursday.

Temperatures will range from the middle 60s to the middle 70s near the coast...
middle 70s downtown L.A. &
middle 70s to the middle 80s out in the valleys.

A storm system will begin impacting the southland late Friday and continue through Saturday.
Rain or rain showers along with a slight chance of thunderstorms over the southland.

Right now...
Most areas will recieve 0.25 to 0.50" of rain...with some areas recieving 0.75 to 1.00" (mainly in areas of heavier thunderstorms).

Virga

This infrared photograph depicts rain evaporating before it hits the surface also known in the weather world as "Virga".

This is a common sight over the high desert country of southern California.

This particular photograph was taken during the morning of Tuesday, October 9th, 2006.

Virga and Rainbow

Rainbow and Virga (rain evaporating before it reaches the ground) just after sunrise on Monday, October 9th, 2006 in the easterm Mojave desert.

The Harvest Moon

The harvest moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the date of the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

Some people claim that the harvest moon shines brighter and more golden than duringnormal full moons. However, since the time between moonrises on successive nights shorter in autumn than at any other time of year, there is very little darkness between sunset and moonrise.

The continuance of the moonlight after sunset is useful to farmers in northern latitudes,who are then harvesting their crops. The full moon following the harvest moon, which exhibitsthe same phenomena in a lesser degree, is called the hunter's moon. A similar phenomenonto the harvest moon is observed in southern latitudes at the spring equinox on about March 21.

End of the Rainbow (Part II)

Another photo of the rare "double rainbow" that was visible Thursday evening over the Mojave Desert.

At the end of the Rainbow

(A Rare Sight - Double Rainbow)

This rare sight occured Thursday evening (October 5th, 2006) as showers were coming to an end in the area.

A few drops on the windshield today?

(Storm Clouds - October 2nd, 2006)

A few light rain showers may spot the windshields of the southland this morning.

Only trace to a few hundreths of an inch at the most is expected before the showers (the few there are) move east of the region this afternoon.

Otherwise... temperatures across the southland will be generally in the 60s to the lower 70s in most coastal and valley locations this afternoon.

A few sprinkles or light showers?

(Sunrise - Wednesday, October 4th, 2006)

A week system will pass through portions of southern and central California on Thursday.

This system will bring a few light rain showers over portions of L.A., Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The best chance of any measurably rainfall will be over San Luis Obispo County and the mountains of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

But...for the most part southlanders will see partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the 60s and 70s on Thursday.

Another Beach Closure

(Newport Beach)

High bacteria levels have forced official to close three waterfront areas in Long Beach.

Marine Stadium and Mother's Beach were closed Friday after routine testing revealed unsafe levels of bacteria.

Colorado Lagoon has been closed since September 14th for the same reason.

Officials in Los Angeles and Long Beach say preliminary investigations show no sign of a storm drain or systemic problem, which leads them to believe someone accidentally or intentionally dumped sewage.

Officials say the areas will be off limits through Wednesday.

On this date in 1912

(Rain in the desert)

On this date in 1912...
The longest "official" rain-free period in the U.S. began today and lasted for 767 days through (11.8.1914) at Baghdad, California, as observed by Southern Pacific Railroad Employees.

Turning L.A. green

(Downtown Los Angeles)

The city of Los Angeles Gave Away over 3,000 Trees on Saturday for it's "Million Trees" Program.

The types of trees that were given away were coast live oaks, sycamores and Chinese flame.

The city of angels aims to plant a million trees in Los Angeles during the next several years.

Nearing Containment

(Smoke on the horizon - Sunset)

The "Day Fire" (which has burned around 162,500 acres in Ventura/L.A. Counties) is finally nearing containment after 4 weeks.

As of Saturday evening... the fire is 87% contained.
100% containment is expected by early Monday evening.