Once in a blue moon

Once in a Blue Moon ... is a common way of saying not very often, but what exactly is a Blue Moon?

According to the popular definition, it is the second Full Moon to occur in a single calendar month.

The "Blue" full moon will be visible over the southland sky... Thursday evening through early Friday morning.

Two systems in the eastern Pacific

Alvin has weakened to a depression as it moves slowly into cooler waters.

Meanwhile...
A new depression formed Monday afternoon just off the coast central Mexico. This system has the potential of becoming a Tropical Storm sometime on Wednesday and even a minimal Hurricane during Thursday or Friday.

Both systems are no threat to land.

One-E becomes "Alvin"

Tropical Depression One in the eastern Pacific has increased slightly during the past 24 hours and has become Tropical Storm "Alvin"

As of early Tuesday morning it had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

It is no treat what so ever to the southland or any land mass.

Tropical Depression ONE-E forms in the E.Pac.

(Visible Satellite Image of ONE-E)

***Updated at: 3:37am/pdt, Memorial Day, May 28th, 2007***

Tropical Depression ONE-E forms in the eastern Pacific.

It is no threat to land.

More about ONE-E on our Eastern Pacific Tropical page.

Southland Weather for Memorial Day:
Morning low clouds and fog...otherwise mostly sunny skies.
Some low clouds will linger along some beach areas into the afternoon hours.

Afternoon temperatures...
60s coastal areas, near 70 downtown LA and in the lower to middle 70s in the inland OC...70s to the lower 80s coastal valleys and in the 80s in the valleys of the IE.

Beach report card

(Summer afternoon at Santa Monica Beach)

***Updated at: 3:42am/pdt, Sunday, May 27th, 2007***

"Heal the Bay" has released it's annual report card on southern California beaches.

The worst southland beach is Long beach.

Some the southland beaches that rated poorly are...
Avalon Beach,
Surfrider Beach,
Santa Monica Beach (near the Pier)
and Cabrillo Beach, Harborside.

Sunday's Weather Outlook...
Morning low clouds and fog...coastal and valley areas will give way to afternoon sunshine.

Some low clouds will linger at the beaches through the afternoon hours.

Afternoon temperatures will range from the lower to middle 60s at the beaches, around 70 downtown L.A., lower to middle 70s inland OC... middle 70s to the middle 80s coastal valleys and in the 80s in the IE valleys.

Gloomy weekend still in the forecast for some

(May Gray over Coronado Island)

***Updated at: 3:45am/pdt, Saturday, May 26th, 2007***

Cool... gloomy weekend for the coastal and valley areas. Skies will becoming mostly sunny inland areas during the late morning/afternoon hours...except some low clouds lingering at the beaches.

Temperatures will remain in the 60s at the beaches... around 70 in Downtown LA... lower to middle 70s for the OC and in the middle 70s to the lower 80s in the coastal valley and in the 80s over the valleys of the IE.

If you want hot temperatures... go to the deserts where temperatures will be in the 90s to the lower 100s through the weekend.

Gloom and Sun for the Holiday Weekend

***Updated at: 3:44am/pdt, Friday, May 25th, 2007***

Coastal/Valley areas...
Night and morning low clouds and fog...becoming mostly sunny during the afternoon hours through the holiday Weekend.

Some beaches will stay overcast into the afternoon hours... mainly OC and San Diego county beaches.

Temperatures will range from the 60s at the coast to the 70s in the valleys....except lower to middle 80s in the far inland valleys... and around 70 in Downtown LA/Inland OC.

Light and Variable Winds.

Mountains/Deserts...
Sunny skies through the weekend. Occasional breezes to 20 mph at times.

Temperatures will range from the 70s to the lower 80s over the mountains, middle 80s to the middle 90s in the high deserts and in the middle 90s to the lower 100s in the low deserts.

Gloomy Memorial Weekend in the forecast

(Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island)

***Updated at: 3:42am/pdt, Thursday, May 24, 2007***

Weak ridging will produce an onshore flow that will bring a gloomy/cool holiday weekend for the southland.

Skies will clear to most beaches during the afternoon.

Temperatures will average near the seasonal normals...
Daytimes temperatures at the beaches will likely be in the 60s with lower to middle 70s at Downtown Los Angeles and inland Orange County.

The coastal valleys will see temperatures in the 70s to the lower 80s.

Lower to middle 80s for some of the valleys of the Inland Empire (where there will be more sunshine).

Looking Ahead into next week...
Models are indicating a large set of swells will arrive sometime on Tuesday from the storm in the southern hemispere.

By Wednesday... sets of 8 to 10 feet with significant risk of rip currents will affect all southland beaches.

So... stay tumed!

Looking ahead to Memorial weekend

(Downtown San Diego as viewed from Coronado)

Low pressure is expected to redevelop aloft by Friday and continue into the long holiday weekend.

This will result in periods of mainly night and morning low clouds and fog even some patchy drizzle at times...with only partial clearing along the coast during the afternoon hours.

Daytime temperatures will be near to slightly below seasonal normals through the forecast period.

Which will mean beach temperatures in the 60s... lower to middle 70s downtown L.A. and inland OC. 70s in the coastal valleys and reaching into the lower 80s in some IE valleys.

Mixed clouds and sun for Tuesday

(Gloomy afternoon in La Jolla)

Morning low clouds and fog...coastal and valley areas Tuesday morning will give way to afternoon sunshine.

Portions of the OC and San Diego county coast will likely remain cloudy through the day though.

Temperatures will remain below seasonal normals on Tuesday.

Beaches... 60s
Downtown LA... near 70
Inland OC... lower 70s
Coastal valleys... upper 60s to the middle 70s
IE valleys... 70s to the lower 80s

The Monday Gloom

(Vincent Thomas Bridge)

The gloom continues as an eddy continues to an onshore flow.

For the next few days... look for night and morning low clouds, fog and even some patchy drizzle...coastal areas...extending inland to some mountain locations.

Temperatures will remain in the 60s at the coast, 70 to 75 downtown L.A. and inland OC... 70s to the lower 80s out in the valleys.

The gloomy "Eddy"

The coastal eddy is expected to linger into the early part of the week.
This will result cool/gloomy days west of the mountains.

Some models are suggesting a weak offshore flow to develop by later in the week over the southland resulting less gloom and more sunshine along with warmer temperatures.

Gloomy weekend for the southland

(Military choppers flying below the morning Stratus deck)

A stubborn "eddy" located over the offshore islands will continue the onshore flow this weekend.

Look for night and morning low clouds and fog...burning off by the afternoon. Some beaches will remain cloudy all day.

Daytime temperatures:
Downtown LA/Inland OC: lower to middle 70s
Beaches: 60s
Valleys: 70s to the middle 80s

Winds:
Light and Variable under 10 mph.

The gloom to continue through the weekend

(Latest Satellite Image - FOG CH.)

_Updated at: 03:35am/pdt, Friday, May 18, 2007

An onshore flow will continue for the next several days resulting in low clouds and fog during the night and morning hours...with patchy low clouds and fog lingering into the afternoon hours at some beaches.
Patchy drizzle during the late night and morning hours... along the far south coast/valleys...and over the valleys of the IE.

Coastal and valley temperatures will remain near to slightly below normal through the weekend.

Beach highs in the 60s...with temperatures in the lower to middle 70s downtown Los Angeles and inland OC.

The valleys will see afternoon high temperatures in the 70s to the middle 80s.

May Gray continues

(Low clouds over Catalina Island)

Low clouds and fog during the morning hours on Thursday...coastal and valley areas...with some low clouds lingering along the coast into the afternoon (especially Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county coasts). Otherwise hazy afternoon sunshine.

Daytime temperatures...
Beaches... 60s
Downtown Los Angeles/OC... lower to middle 70s
Valleys... middle 70s to the middle 80s

Light and variable winds.

Mid Week May Gray

(Pt. Loma/Lighthouse)

May Gray continues over the southland on Wednesday.

Look for morning coastal/valley low clouds and fog...giving way to partial afternoon sunshine near the coast.

Light and variable winds.

Afternoon high temperatures...
lower to middle 70s Downtown L.A./Inland OC
70s to the middle 80s in the valleys and in the...
60s at the beaches.

Typical May Gray

(Santa Monica Beach)

The typical "May Gray" for Tuesday over the coastal areas and most valley locations...this will give way to clearing to the coast during Tuesday afternoon.

Temperatures will be comfortable for the most part.

High temperatures for Tuesday will be in the...
lower to middle 70s inland Los Angeles/Orange counties.
70s to the middle 80s in the valleys and in the...
60s at the beaches.

Light/variable winds will continue.

Monday's Weather outlook

(Santa Monica Pier)

Mostly sunny skies to start the new week.

There will be some patchy low clouds and fog along the coast extending into some valley locations Monday morning.

Daytime temperatures...
Beaches: 60s

Inland LA & Orange Counties: middle 70s

Valleys: middle 70s to the middle 80s

Winds:
Light and variably under 10 mph.

Happy Mother's Day 2007

(Santa Monica Beach)

The southland will see great weather for Mother's day... Mostly sunny skies after the morning marine layer burns off.

Daytime temperatures will reach into the middle 70s for downtown L.A. and inland OC.

60s at the beaches

middle 70s to the middle 80s in the valleys.

Winds will be under 10 mph.

Catalina Island Fire Weather Forecast

(Avalon, Catalina Island)

Forecast for Saturday...Updated at 9:55am/pdt Saturday May 12:
Sky/WX:
Areas of low clouds and fog near the coast through early afternoon...otherwise mostly sunny.
Max Temperature:
around 67
Min Humidity:
65 to 70%
Wind (20 feet):
Slope/Valley:
South 3 to 5 mph...becoming west 6 to 12 mph in the afternoon.
Ridgetop:
South 4 to 6 mph...becoming west 8 to 14 mph in the afternoon.
Eye Level Winds:
South 1 to 3 mph...becoming west 3 to 6 mph in the afternoon.

Forecast courtesy of:
NOAA's National Weather Service in Oxnard/Los Angeles

Fire weather forecast for Catalina Island on Friday

(West Avalon)

Friday Night Fire weather Forecast:
***Updated at: 3:34pm/pdt, Friday, May 11, 2007

Sky/WX Conditions:

Clear...low clouds and fog developing late.
Min. Temperatures:
around 50

Max. Humidity:
79%

Wind (20 feet):
Slope/valley:
Northwest winds 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph...decreasing to 4 to 8 mph.

Forecast courtesy of:
NOAA's/National Weather Service in Oxnard/Los Angeles.

May Gray returns to the coast

(Marine layer - Santa Monica Beach)

The airflow has turned onshore...this will result in an increase in the marine layer over the coastal areas...gradually extending into some of the valleys over the next couple days...along with cooler temperatures.

This will be a great help for firefighters fighting the brushfires across southern California.

Warm and extremely dry conditions continues

(Smoky Sunset)

Tinder dry conditions and warm temperatures will continue cause havoc for southland firefighters on Wednesday.

Temperatures will reach 90 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, upper 80s to the middle 90s in the valleys and in the middle 70s to the middle 80s at the beaches.

Locally breezy conditions at times through and just below passes and canyons.

High heat and fire danger continues...

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

***Update: 03:40am/pdt, Tuesday, May 08, 2007***

Very warm and dry conditions will continue through Tuesday as a strong offshore flow prevails over the southland.

Forecast high temperatures for Tuesday...
upper 70s to the middle 80s coastal areas,
middle 90s downtown L.A. and inland O.C.
middle 90s to near 100 in the valleys.

Locally breezy conditions at times through and just below passes and canyons.

Heat and high fire danger to start the work week

(Santa Monica Beach)

***Update: 3:40 am pdt Monday May 07, 2007***

An offshore flow will continue to bring warm and dry conditions to southern California for the start of the new week.

This will result in a continued high fire danger for southern California.

Red Flag Warnings are currently in effect through Monday evening for the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles...Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Forecast high temperatures on Monday will range from the 80s at the beaches to lower 90s for downtown L.A., lower to middle 90s for inland O.C., and in the 90s in the valleys.

It will remain breezy to locally windy through and below passes and canyons through at least Monday evening.

High winds/fire danger

(Chino Hills - Diamond Bar)

A moderate off shore flow will bring gusty winds and warm temperatures to the southland through at least Monday.

The strongest winds will blow Sunday morning over the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles county...and in the Santa Clarita valley.

Gusts in these areas may exceed 50 mph at times.

Elsewhere across the southland... gusts to 30 mph are possible at times through and below the passes and canyons... this will included areas like the Hollywood Hills, Whittier and Chino Hills.

With the off shore and dry conditions that exist in southern California... NOAA's National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning for the mountains and valleys of Los Angeles...Ventura and Santa Barbara counties through Monday evening.

There is possibility of these being expanded over portions of the IE and San Diego county later on Sunday.

Off shore flow to develop

(Catalina Island)

An offshore flow will develop over the weekend.

This will result in warmer daytime temperatures along with mostly sunny skies.

Locally breezy conditions will occur through and just below the canyons and passes at times through at least Sunday.

Winds continues to blow over the mountains/deserts

(San Bernardino Mountains)

Gusty winds will continue to blow on Friday over the mountains/deserts of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties.

Gusts to near 50 mph are possible in these areas.

Winds are expected to subside a bit by late Friday night.

Elsewhere... breezy to windy conditions will continue over the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties...and over the Antelope Valley.

Gusts to around 35 mph are possible at times on Friday...except 45 mph gusts over the Antelope Valley in the afternoon/evening hours.

Strong/gusty winds continue over the mountains & deserts

(Current Water Vapor Imagery)

Strong and gusty winds will continue to blow over the mountains and deserts of southern California through at least Thursday night.

The strongest winds will be over the mountains/deserts of the Inland Empire and San Diego county...where gusts will exceed 55 mph at times. Areas of reduced visibilities in blowing dust and sand over the deserts.

Continuous updates on the winds at...
Southland WX.

Strong winds over the mountains and deserts

(Big Bear Lake)

Strong and gusty winds will blow across the mountains and deserts on Wednesday then increase late Wednesday night and Thursday over the southern mountains and most desert locations.

Gust nearing 50 mph are possible on Wednesday over these areas...then increasing to over 60 mph late Wednesday evening and Thursday over the southern mountains and deserts.

May Gray

Also, an upper level low about 70 miles to the SW of LAX Airport will produce isolated to widely scattered showers and thunderstorms across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties on Tuesday.

Primary threats from the thunderstorms will be...
...gusty winds,
...brief moderate downpours,
...cloud-to-ground lightning strikes
...and small hail.