Windy again on Thursday

Strong and gusty winds will continue over much of the southland Thursday.

Gusts around 60 mph are possible...through and just below canyons and passes.
This will make driving difficult (especially for high profile or light weight vehicles) on the 5 FWY through and just below the Grapevine and the 15 FWY through and just below the Cajon Pass.

Elsewhere across SoCal... winds will be in the 15 to 30 mph with gusts to around 40 mph in some favored locations such as the Santa Monica mountains and Hollywood Hills and in the Chino Hills.

These winds will subside by late this afternoon.

But...
Are likely to return this weekend.

So stay tuned...

Cold, Windy Wednesday

Strong and gusty north winds will howl across the southland Wednesday.

Gusts may reach 80 mph through and just below passes and canyons of the Inland Empire.

Gusts to over 60 mph possible through and below passes and canyons of San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Additionally... the north winds make for a cold day. Temperatures expected to reach the lower to middle 60s will actually feel 10 to 15 degrees cooler at times.


Stay informated on the hazardous weather conditions at...
Southland WX.

Cold fall day

Below normal temperatures will mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies for the southland Tuesday.

There will be a slight chance of morning showers over San Diego County and the Inland Empire.

Temperatures will range be only in the lower to middle 60s in most areas...except upper 50s to the lower 60s at the beaches.


The winds will be in the increase Wednesday across southern California along with the high threat of brushfires.

Cold, wet and blusterly start to the week

It will be a cold and damp start to the week for the southland as a storm system will bring a showers and colder temperatures to the region.

For the most part rainfall amounts will be under a quarter of a inch...more likely around a tenth of an inch...for most coastal and valley locations by late Monday.

Snow showers will likely fall over the San Gabriels and San Bernardino's (above 5,000 feet or so).

Only light amounts expected 1 to 3".

Strong and gusty winds will blow over the mountains and high deserts late Monday morning through late Monday evening.

Gusts may exceed 40 mph at times....this will make driving difficult...especially if your driving a light weight or a high profile vehicle.

Temperatures will be in the upper 50s to the middle 60s in most coastal and valley locations this afternoon...but with 15 mph winds it will be a few degrees cooler.

Stay informed on the changing weather conditions by visiting...
Southland Weather.

Colder and unsettled conditions on the way

(Sunrise - Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2006)

The first cold winter storm will effect the southland beginning Sunday night and continue through Monday night.

For Sunday...
Increasing mid to high level clouds across the southland with cool temperatures.

Sunday night...
Increasing and thickening clouds with rain becoming likely over Santa Barbara County...then spreading south into much of the southern California during the early morning hours Monday.

Monday and Monday night...
Breezy to locally windy conditions (especially mountain and desert areas). Widespread rain or rain showers...diminishing by Monday evening.

Snow showers likely over the mountains with the snow level dropping to the 5,000 to 5,500 foot level. A few inches of snow is possible.

The rainfall amounts will generally by around a quarter of an inch...but favored mountain locations may recieve a half an inch.

Frequent updates on the storm system at...
Southland WX.

More clouds than sun Saturday

("Over-exposed" Sunset - Thursday, Nov. 23rd, 2006)

Partly to mostly cloudy skies on tap for Saturday across the southland.
Areas of morning low clouds and fog...coastal and valley locations.
There is a slight risk of few sprinkles over Orange and San Diego Counties and the valleys/mountains of the Inland Empire this morning.

Temperatures will be on the cool side.

middle 60s downtown Los Angeles,
middle 60s to the middle 70s in the valleys and in the
upper 50s to the middle 60s at the beaches.

If plan on surfing at San Diego County coastal waters... Use extreme caution...as there is a high potential of rip currents.

Looking ahead...
A storm system will have bring cooler temperatures and a chance of showers across SoCal Sunday night through Monday.
Rainfall amounts will be light...but with the cooler temperatures the season's first snow is possible over the San Gabriel's and the San Bernardino's late Sunday night and Monday.

Stay Tuned!

Mix clouds and sun

(Sunrise - Thursday, Nov. 23rd, 2006)

There will be a mixture of clouds and sunshine across the southland Friday.
Morning low clouds and fog will blanket some coastal and valley locations.

Temperatures will reach into the lower 70s in Downtown L.A.
upper 60s to the upper 70s valleys...and in the
60s at the beaches.

A fairly signicant change in the weather is on tap for next week.
Some rain is possible late Sunday into Monday...then a potentially strong Santa Ana wind event later next week.

So...stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kinda of a gloomy Thanksgiving for the southland...
...Look for morning low clouds and fog...coastal and valley locations...then partial clearing in the afternoon.

Daytime high temperatures...
lower 70s Downtown Los Angeles...
upper 60s to near 80 in the valleys...
and in the 60s at the beaches.


Possibly some showers late Sunday night through Monday evening?

Busy travel day

(The 15 FWY - Cajon Pass)

Many southern Californian's will be hitting the roads for Thanksgiving weekend...

...Here are a few selected city forecasts for Wednesday...
(Forecast High temperatures for Wednesday and the low temperatures are for Wednesday night)

Traveling north on the 5 and 99 Freeways...
Partly cloudy skies expected.

Bakersfield... 67/47
Fresno... 64/49
Sacramento... 59/48

Traveling north on the 1 and 101 Freeways...
Mostly cloudy skies.

Monterey/Santa Cruz... 63/48
Salinas... 65/38
Downtown San Francisco... 60/43

For up-to-date southern California forecasts and driving conditions
Visit...
Southland WX.

Record Breaking Monday

(San Fernando Valley...as Seen from the Hollywood Hills)

Several obsevation sites across the southland tied or broke high temperature records on Monday, November 20th, 2006.

The following are some selected record high temperatures...

BIG BEAR LAKE: 66 Old Record: 64 In 1995

RAMONA AIRPORT: 88 Old Record: 86 In 2002

RIVERSIDE AIRPORT: 89 Old Record: 88 In 1932

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES: 91 Old Record: 90 in 2002

WOODLAND HILLS: 94 Old Record 89 in 1989

...Temperatures across the southland will be much cooler Tuesday...
upper 70s downtown L.A.,
upper 70s to the middle 80s in the valleys and...
in the middle 60s to the middle 70s at the beaches.

Record Breaking Temperatures - Sunday

(San Fernando Valley - as seen from the Hollywood Hills)

Record breaking high temperatures were established on Sunday.

Here are a few of them...

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, USC...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 92 DEGREES WAS SET AT DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, USC TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 1895.

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT LONG BEACH AIRPORT TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 1989.

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT U.C.L.A...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT U.C.L.A. TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 88 DEGREES SET IN 1954.

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT BOB HOPE AIRPORT (BURBANK)...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES WAS SET AT BOB HOPE AIRPORT (BURBANK) TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 89 SET IN 1989.

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT WOODLAND HILLS...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT WOODLAND HILLS/ PIERCE COLLEGE TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 DEGREES SET IN 2005.

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT SAN GABRIEL...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 93 DEGREES WAS SET AT SAN GABRIEL TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 DEGREES SET IN 1989.

Why leaves change in the fall?

The reason why leaves change color...
The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible .

Weather has an effect on the color intesity of the fall colors...
Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing wil lfavor anthocyanin formation producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors.

Flight paths and weather

Have you ever wondered why majority time you never have an airplane fly over your house...then all of the sudden you constant aircraft traffic overhead?

90% of the time its due to a significant change in the wind.
The other 10% of the time is due to runway work...etc.

Anyways, during Santa Ana wind events, this is very noticeable at most southland airports.

Dry weather to continue...

(Sunset - Wednesday, November 15th, 2006)

The dry weather that the southland has been experiencing will likely continue through the rest of the month...as there is no significant changes in the forecast models progs forseen.

Another "off-shore" event is possible by Thanksgiving weekend.

Rip Current risk Thursday morning

(San Luis Harbor - San Luis Obispo)

There is a risk for rip currents along the coastal waters of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties Thursday morning.

This is partially due to fluctuations in the tides due to the M8.3 earthquake off the coast Russia Wednesday.

The threat of rip currents should subside by Thursday afternoon.

(San Luis Harbor (Picture Above) had some minor surge cause by the earthquake late Wednesday afternoon).

Contrails

(Double Contrails - November 10th, 2006)

Jet trails (also known as Contrails) are form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with environmental air of low vapor pressure and low temperature.

The double contrails pictured above were produced by 2 aircraft flying at an altitude around 34,000 feet or so.

Flying Saucer Clouds

(Alto Lenticular Clouds)

These clouds may be seen Tuesday over some of the mountain ranges of southern California.

They form on the front range of a mountain range when the winds aloft are strong. In southern California... they'll typically form on the east or north side of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

Brush fire in the Lake Elsinore area

(Lake Elsinore)

125 to 150 acre brush fire is currently burning just sw of Lake Elsinore.

As for the weather forecast for the area...

Today...
Partly cloudy skies.
Temperatures will reach into the middle to upper 70s Monday afternoon.
Min. humidity... 15 to 20%
Winds (20ft): Variable 2 to 5 mph becoming northwest 10 mph Monday afternoon.

Continuous fire and weather updates at...
Southland WX.

Winds blowing in the mountains and valleys Sunday

(Sunset - Friday, November 10th, 2006)

Gusty winds...mainly through and below passes and canyons of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino counties today.

Winds may exceed 45 mph at times.

This make driving difficult...especially if your driving a light weight or a high profile vehicle.

Stay informed on the wind situation at...
Southland Weather.

Veteran's Day

A frontal system will pass through the region today and tonight.

For areas of the southland this will mean a rather cloudy Veteran's day with some breezes in the mountains and high deserts.

As the front passes through Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties there will be chance for light rain showers.

Rainfall amounts in these areas will be under a quarter of an inch.

A couple of these showers may make it's way into the Los Angeles County mountains later on Veteran's Day afternoon.

Temperatures will be near normal for this time of year...
upper 60s to the middle 70s in the valleys,
lower to middle 70s downtown L.A and inland Orange County,
and in the 60s near the beaches.

Continues threat of brushfires

(San Gabriel Mountains as viewed from the 60 Freeway)

Gusty winds and low relative humidities will add up for another day of high fire threats.

The main concerns is the mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties

The NWS in Oxnard has posted a Red Flag Warning for the above mentioned areas through 6:00pm Friday evening.

Gusty winds of 25 to 40 mph and relative humidities of 3 to 15 per-cent (mainly above the 4,000 foot level).

Stay informed on these conditions by logging onto...
Southland Weather.

High fire threat

(Sunset - Friday, Nov. 3rd, 2006)

Dry and windy conditions will be responsible for a high fire threat across southern California through at least Friday.

A tight north to south pressure gradient will produce gusty winds (at times around 50 mph) through and just below canyons and passes...especially Thursday morning.

Red Flag warnings and fire weather watches are in effect for much of the southland through Friday afternoon.

Up-to-date weather forecasts at...
Southland Weather.

Records temperatures broken on Tuesday, Nov. 7th

(Sunset - Monday, November 6th, 2006)

Several observation sites established new record high temperatures on Tuesday, November 7th...

...Woodland Hills... 101 Degrees (Old Record: 94, set in 1956)

Records were also set downtown Los Angeles, 97 degrees, breaking the old record of 91, set in 1956;

Los Angeles International Airport, 93, breaking the old record of 92, set in 1956;

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, 94, breaking the old record of 92, set in 1956;

Long Beach Airport, 92, breaking the old record of 87, set in 1961;

Pasadena, 93, breaking the old record of 92, set in 1956;

Santa Monica Pier, 81, breaking the old record of 80, set in 1959;

UCLA, 93, breaking the old record of 91, set in 1956;

Lancaster 85, breaking the old record of 84, set in 1950 and Sandberg,

80, breaking the old record of 76, set in 1991.

...Temperatures across the southland will be much cooler Wednesday...
70s and 80s in the valleys,
middle to upper 70s downtown L.A. and in the...
60s at the beaches.

*************************************************

...High Winds beginning Wednesday evening and continuing through Thursday morning.

Gusty winds are expected to develop over the mountains of Los Angeles...Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties below a dry cold front that will pass through the southland Wednesday evening.

Keep up-to-date on this wind event at...
Southland Weather.

Hot and dry

(Santa Monica Beach - July 2005)

Hot and dry conditions expected across the southland again on Tuesday as an offshore flow continues to influence the weather across the region.

Daytime temperatures will reach into the 90s out in the valleys...
...near 95 downtown Los Angeles (the record is 91 set back in 1956)...and in the 70s to the lower 80s at the beaches.

These hot and dry conditions will make for dangerous fire conditions again on Tuesday.

Frequent updates on the heat and the fires at...
Southland WX.

Increased fire danger Monday

(Sunset - Saturday, November 4th, 2006)

Warm, dry off-shore flow will be responsible for high fire danger across the southland Monday.

Temperatures will reach into the upper 80s to the middle 90s out in the valleys with low relative humidities.

Gusty winds...especially through and below passes and canyons. Some areas (especially Los Angeles and Ventura County mountain areas) some gusts may exceed 50 mph Monday morning.

Keep informed on this situation at...
Southland WX.

This day in history...

(Downtown L.A. as seen from the 10 Freeway - July 2005)

This day in history in 1913...
... Forty-thousand people were on hand in the San Fernando Valley to witness the long-awaited moment when water from 200 miles away in the Owens Valley reached Los Angeles via the city's new aqueduct, The Times reported under the headline "Silver Torrent Crowns the City's Mighty Achievement."

Mountain Winds

(San Gabriel Mountains - July 2005)

A fairly strong north to south pressure gradient will be responsible for gusty winds (at times over 50 mph) over the mountains Los Angeles and Ventura County.

Driving conditions will be difficult (especially if your driving a light weight or a high profile vehicle) through and just below the Grapevine on the 5 Freeway and on the 14 Freeway from Santa Clarita northeast to just south of Palmdale.

Updates on the wind situation at:
Southland WX.

Foggy History Fact.

(Foggy Pre-Dawn - San Diego Harbor)

On this date (November 3rd, 2002):
...Dense fog and motorists driving too fast for existing conditions resulted in a 2 pile-ups on the 710 FWY south of Downtown Los Angeles.

...194 vehicles were involved in the two pileups.

...No deaths but there were 41 injuries.

Quiet Thursday

(Santa Monica Beach - March 2003)

Quiet weather expected Thursday over the southland.

Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies...except for areas of morning low clouds and patchy fog.

Daytime high temperatures...
70s in the valleys...
lower 70s Downtown Los Angeles...and in the
60s at the beaches.

Light and variable winds expected.

Esperanza Fire

(Smoky skies - Sunday, October 29th, 2006)

The Esperanza Fire has claimed the life of the severely burned firefighter late Tuesday.

Also came word...late Tuesday... that a "person of interest" had been arrested.

The fire is responsible for an estimated $9.9 million of damages.

Frequent fire updates at...
Southland WX.