Off shores winds to ring in 2008

(Palm Trees - Harbor Blvd, Anaheim)

Building high pressure over the intermountain west will produce gusty off shore winds across the southland through mid-week.

The strongest winds will blow over the mountains and valleys...especially through and just below the passes and canyons. In these areas gusts to exceeding 55 mph are possible through New Years Day.

Due to the extremely dry conditions in combination with the winds... the fire danger over southern California will be at the critical stage.

Top 3 weather-related stories for 2007

(Smoky October Sunrise)

All three top weather stories for the southland are related.

Wildires, Drought and heat

It's difficult to rank what story is number 1... as all three had a significant

impact on southlanders.

The wildfires of October and November damaged homes and changes lives for ever.

The drought... has lead to water conservation in some SoCal communities.

The summer heat... resulted in several deaths over the region...and established all time record high temperatures for some cities.

What will 2008 bring to the southland... only mother nature knows.

Off shore wind event on tap for New Year's

***Updated: 03:27am/pst, Saturday, Dec. 29th, 2007***

High pressure is expected to build over the intermountain west late in the weekend through the New Year's holiday

This will result in a moderate off shore wind event over the southland Monday and New Year's day.

The winds combined with the extremely dry conditions across the region will elevate the fire danger.

Later next week... models are suggesting a storm system will bring a good chance of rain and mountain snows to the region... So stay tuned!!!

A small chance of rain late Friday and Saturday

(Coronado and Point Loma as viewed from the Coronado Bridge)

***Updated at: 03:39am pst December 28, 2007***

A weak upper level disturbance will bring a few light showers to the southland beginning Friday morning over Santa Barbara/Ventura counties...then spread south into LA. county Friday afternoon then much of the rest of SoCal Friday evening.

Some lingering showers are possible early Saturday morning over portions of the far south and eastern portions of the southland.

Rainfall amounts will range from a Trace to a few hundreths of an inch for the most part... except locally one tenth of an inch along some favored coastal mountains and foothills.

Looking ahead...
Another potentially damaging wind event is in store for southern California over the New Years Holiday.

Periods of Santa Ana winds for the rest of the year

(Downtown San Diego as seen from the transition of the 7/75 Freeways)

***Updated at: 09:31am/pst, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007***

A deep low pressure trough alost and surface high pressure building over the interior west will continue to produce gusty winds across the southland on Thursday.

The strongest winds will blow during the morning hours over the mountains of Ventura/Los Angeles counties and in the Santa Clarita valley.

Gusts in these areas may reach 65 mph at times.

Another wind event is possible for the last of 2007 and the first day of 2008.

What's New? Another round of winds

(Passing Train - Below the Cajon Pass)

Another round of gusty winds are expected late Wednesday through Thursday across the southland.

Gusts will likely exceed 60 mph through and below passes and canyons. Gusts to around 45 mph are possible over much of the coastal plain and valleys.

Looking ahead... another off shore wind event is possible for New Years eve and New Years Day.

Short-Lived Santa Ana Wind Event for Christmas

(Poinsettia Tree - La Jolla)

***Updated at: 05:08am/pst, Christmas, Dec, 25th, 2007***

Strong Santa Ana winds will blow through late Christmas Day.

The strongest winds will likely occur through and below passes and canyons... where gusts will exceed 70 mph at times.

Otherwise... it will be a mild, mostly sunny skies Christmas across the southland.

Merry Christmas southern California!!!

Damaging winds possible Christmas eve/Christmas Day

(Balboa Park, San Diego)

***Updated at: 09:48am/pst, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th, 2007***

An offshore will intensify over the southland begining Christmas Eve then continue through Christmas Day.

There high a potential of damaging winds through and below passes and canyons along with high fire danger... due to low humidities combined with the gusty winds.

Temperatures will be mild in the 60s and 70s across the coastal plain and valleys through Christmas Day.

Periods of offshore winds for the next several days

(Hills above La Jolla)

There will be periods of offshore winds that will blow across the SoCal region through much of the coming week.

At this time... the strongest winds appear to be on Christmas eve through Christmas Day.

The strongest winds will likely occur through and below passes and canyons.

Other than periods of clouds...skies across the area will be mostly clear.

Winter Arrives in the southland

(High Surf pounding La Jolla shores)

Winter arrived at 10:08 pm Friday evening!

Outlook for the weekend and beyond...
Periods of off shore winds will continue through early next week.

The strongest period of winds will likely occur late Christmas Eve and
Christmas Day (mainly through and below canyons and passes).

Mostly clear skies will continue except partly cloudy skies Sunday night and Monday and again on Wednesday and weather systems passes to the north of us.

Gusty winds over the mountains/deserts through Friday afternoon

(Downtown San Diego - Saturday, Dec. 15th, 2007)

***Updated at: 3:41am/pst, Friday, December 21st, 2007***

Gusty winds will continue across a good portion of the southland on Friday. The strongest winds occur during the morning hours and over the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties (where gusts to over 60 mph are possible).

Elsewhere... gusts to around 45 mph possible over the Los Angeles county coastal and valley areas (especially through and below passes and canyons) and in the valleys of the Inland Empire, the southern mountain ranges and lower deserts.

Winds will subside during the afternoon hours on Friday.

Over the weekend into the first part of the coming week... look for fair weather along with occasional breezy to locally windy periods.

Winter Begins at: 10:08 pm Friday evening!

Weaker storm to affect the southland Thursday/Thursday night

(Coronado - Sunday, Dec. 16th, 2007)

***Updated at: 4:31am/pst, Thursday, December 20th, 2007***

A low pressure trough will bring a chance of light showers to the southland mainly Thursday afternoon/evening.

Rainfall amounts will generally average under one tenth of an inch from this storm.

Associated with the trough of low pressure will be gusty winds...especially over the mountains and high deserts. Gusts may exceed 60 mph over the mountains of Ventura/LA counties Thursday night and Friday morning.

Other mountain and high desert areas will likely see gusts around 45 mph.

An off shore flow will prevail over the weekend through Christmas. This will result in dry conditions with occasional gusty winds.

Winter begins at: 10:08pm Friday evening!

Decreasing showers Wednesday

(Downtown San Diego/Lindbergh Airport - December 16th, 2007)

***Updated at: 04:28am/pst, Wednesday, December 19th, 2007***

A departing storm system will trigger light to occasional moderate showers across SoCal during Wednesday morning.

Showers may continue into the afternoon over some mountain locations.

Another system will bring a few showers to the region beginning late Thursday.

Rainfall amount from this system will be much lighter than Tuesday's system.

Gusty offshore winds are expected late Friday through Sunday...then again on Christmas Day.

This will result in warmer temperatures and mostly clear skies over the weekend into the first part of next week.

Winter begins Friday night at: 10:08pm/pst

An increasing chance of rain later Monday night through Tuesday night

(La Jolla - December 15th, 2007)

***Updated at: 3:31am/pst, Tuesday, December 18th, 2007***

A cold front will move through the southland late Tuesday afternoon/Tuesday night.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected for the afternoon hours on Tuesday with moderate to locally heavy rain fall possible from the early Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning.

Local flash flooding along with mud or debris flows are possible over the burn areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura, LA, Orange counties along with the San Bernardino mountains and the Santa Ana mountains and adjacent foothills.

Deepening Marine layer

(Hermosa Beach)

A rapidly deepening marine Layer Monday morning.
Look for areas of morning low clouds and fog most coastal and valley locations then give way to partly to mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon hours.

Fair weather through the weekend!

(Fall Colors - San Bernardino mountains)

Weak high pressure will produce fair weather across the southland through the weekend.

Weak off shore winds will develop during the late night and early morning hours...resulting in locally breezy conditions mainly through and just below the passes and canyons.

An onshore flow will return the first of the week and bring a return the night and morning marine layer.

A Pacific storm system may move in by mid week... bring a chance of rain to the southland Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Fair and seasonal weather through the weekend

(Sunset - December 12th, 2007)

Fair skies along with near normal temperatures will continue through the weekend.

A brief a period of gusty northeast winds are expected early Friday morning...primarily through and just below the passes and canyons.

The marine layer may make return to areas along the coast by late Sunday night as the onshore flow is expected to strengthen.

Models are suggesting that unsettled conditions may return to the southland by early to middle of next return... so stay tuned!

Mid week: Fair & Seasonal WX

(Colorful Sunrise - December 11th, 2007)

For Wednesday...
Fair skies with seasonal temperatures expected.

Much of the coastal plain and valleys will see daytime temperatures in the 60s with light and variable winds.

Looking ahead...
A trough over the Great Basin region will likely produce locally gusty winds to around 45 mph late Thursday night and much of Friday through and just below the passes and canyons.

The weekend looks fairly nice... with mostly sunny skies and seasonal temperatures.
Some increase in clouds can be expected on Sunday as trough of low pressure approaches.

Next chance of rain comes by the middle of next...as large storm system moves into California.

Gusty winds rest of Tuesday

(Fall Colors - December 10th, 2007)

***Updated at: 10:36am/pst, Tuesday, December 11, 2007***

Gusty winds will blow...with the strongest winds through and below passes and canyons of Los Angeles and Ventura counties remainder of Tuesday.

Gusts between 40 and 50 mph are a good possibility in these areas.

Dry and warmer conditions will return to the southland for the second half of the week.

Another trough of low pressure may bring wet conditions during the early part of next week?

Stay Tuned!!!

Cold temperatures

Building high pressure Monday will continue to the cold northerly flow over the Southland.

Another shot of cold temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is the result of cold low pressure system dropping southward through Nevada.

Areas of frost are possible the next few mornings in the southland valleys.

Also... beware of black ice...especially in the valleys and high deserts.

Cold and windy conditions

***Updated at: 1:29pm pst Sunday Dec. 09 2007***

A few lingering light showers are possible over the far southern and eastern portions of the southland through Sunday evening...otherwise mostly clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected.

The big story over the next 24 hour or so... will be the winds...especially over the valleys and mountains where a "Wind Advisory" remains in effect.

In these areas gusts to around 40 mph are possible. Some isolated gusts to 60 mph are possible in some locations.

Patchy frost is possible in the wind protected areas of the valleys the next couple mornings. This will also include the outline areas around Palm Springs.

A warmer and dry weather pattern is on tap for the second half of the week.

Cold and unsettled...through Sunday morning

(Current Infrared Satellite Imagery)

***Updated at: 2:35pm/pst, Saturday, December 8th, 2007***

A cold storm will move south along the coast Saturday night and Sunday morning bring scattered to numerous showers along with locally breezy conditions.

There will be a chance of isolated thunderstorms through Sunday with the possibility of waterspouts over the coastal waters. Some small hail is also possible.

Snow showers will fall at quite low elevations by Saturday night/Sunday morning... locally down to 3,000 feet in some locations...locally lowering to the valley floor of over the high desert locations. Accumulations of 3 to 6 inches possible over the mountains through Sunday mornihng

Gusty winds combined with the snow will produce local reduced visibilities in blowing snow...especially over the Santa Ynez and San Gabriels.

*Re designed Southland Weather has debut as of Saturday morning!!!

Cold/Blusterly end of the week/sct. showers

(Doppler Radar Imagery - San Diego)

***Updated at: 4:35pm/pst, Friday, December 7th, 2007***

Through Friday night...
Partly to mostly cloudy skies, cold and windy conditions.

There will be a continued risk of light to occasional moderate showers across the southland through nighttime hours.

Additional rainfall amounts will be mostly under one-tenth of an inch through the overnight hours Friday...with most areas not recieving a drop of rain.

The snow levels over the mountains will lower to 4,000 to 5,000 during the evening hours...with an additional 1 to 3" possible.

Gusty winds will begin to subside Friday evening... but some gusts to over 45 mph are possible over the mountains and desert areas.

For marine interest...
Gale force winds will continue through Friday evening over the waters from L.A. county north/westward.

Additionally... high surf will continue to affect the San Diego county beaches.

For all beaches... there will be a continue risk of rip currents.
So its advised that surfers and swimmers to remain onshore.

An intense storm system to bring rain and mountain snows

(Infrared Satellite Imagery)

***Updated late Thursday afternoon***

Rain and mountain snows will be widespread beginning Thursday night and continue into much of Friday.

Current forecasts are indicating 1 inch plus amounts along the coastal plain and valleys...with locally higher amounts along favored south/southwest facing mountain slopes/foothills.

Snow accumulations at the resort levels will likely be in the neighborhood of six to twelve inches...with locally higher amounts at the highest elevations.

Flash flood watches have been posted for all southern California burn areas beginning late Thursday evening through much of Friday.

In these areas... flash flooding along with mud and debris flows are possible.

Also... Gusty winds will blow across the southland beginning Thursday evening and continue through Friday evening.

The strongest gusts will occur over the mountains and deserts...where some gusts may reach or exceed 65 mph at times.

High Surf through Thursday for the rest of the week/weekend

1): High Surf:
High surf will continue to pound southland beaches through Thursday morning...then begin to subside. Local sets exceeding 15 feet are likely along exposed west facing beaches with some sets reaching as high as 17 feet.

2): Wet weather for the end of the week:
An intense storm system will bring rain and mountain snow to the southland beginning Thursday evening along the Santa Barbara/Ventura Coast...then reaching the L.A. Basin by late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Rain or rain showers will continue across all of the southland during the day on Friday then begin to decrease Friday night into Saturday.

Rainfall amounts are expected to be in the 1 to 2 " range for the most part with locally higher amounts along favored mountain slopes and foothill areas.

Snow is likely to fall over the mountains of SoCal with accumulations of over 6" possible at the resort levels by Saturday morning.

There also will be a chance of thunderstorms that may produce small hail and waterspouts over the coastal waters Friday afternoon...as cool air aloft moves overhead.

It will breezy to locally windy...especially during the frontal passage of Friday morning. Some may be near advisory levels in some areas.

Large swells mid week then wet weather late week into the weekend

Dangerous swells will pound the beaches of SoCal through Thursday morning.
Some sets may reach 15 feet at times...especially exposed west facing beaches.

Later in the week into the weekend:
A large storm system is expected to bring moderate to locally heavy rainfall to the southland beginning late Thursday night and continue through much of the weekend.

The heaviest and greatest areal coverage of precipiation will occur late Thursday night through Friday night.

The possible also exists for thunderstorms especially on Saturday.

Snow is likely to fall over the mountains...with the possibility of heavy snows over the higher elevations.

It will breezy to locally windy...mainly over the mountains and deserts with this system.

Atmospheric cocktail of weather for the southland this week.

Something for everybody this week for southern Californian's...

First off... high pressure will produce a weak to moderate off shore flow through mid week. This will result in gusty winds, lowering humidities and warmer temperatures. This will make for high fire danger.

Secondly... high surf will pound southland beaches beginning Tuesday and lasting through Thursday. The high surf and swells will make for dangerous boating and surfing. Also... minor coastal flooding is also possible...mainly over low lying west facing beaches.

Finally... a major storm over the central Pacific (pictured in the above graphic) is expected to bring widespread (possibly heavy) precipitation to SoCal by Friday and possibly continuing through much of the weekend.

This storm is expected to bring higher rainfall amounts with mountain snows to the southland along with gusty winds. The possibility also exists for thunderstorms.

Further updates as the week proceeds on this storm system.

Off shore flow early/mid week... then a strong storm system by week's end?

Gusty north to northeast winds are expected to effect the southland Tuesday and Wednesday. The strongest winds will occur through and below passes and canyons. The combination of the high winds and lowering dewpoints will result in high fire danger.

Meanwhile... A large swell will produce high surf on the southland beaches Tuesday through Thursday. The west facing beaches will be most prone to these conditions. Minor coastal flooding is a possibility.

Finally by week's end... the potential exists for another storm system to impact SoCal on Friday and Saturday. Some models are indicating rain...possibly heavy at times. If this occurs this may result in flash flooding and mudslides... especially in the recent burn areas.

Further information on the storm system as the week proceeds on.

Warmer Sunday and beyond...

(Lingering memories on Friday's Rains)

High pressure will produce a weak off shore beginning Monday through early week...resulting in much warmer temperatures and occasional gusty winds.

Meanwhile... another trough of low pressure may bring unsettled weather by the end of the week.