LOS ANGELES (CNS) - After a long bout of rain and cooler temperatures, the Southland will experience a warm-up over the next two days, accompanied by gusty Santa Ana winds.
National Weather Service forecasters noted that temperatures on Tuesday were already about 5-10 degrees higher than Monday in many areas, while other areas saw a temperature jump of as much as 20 degrees.
Despite the rise, however, temperatures were still slightly below normal. But that is expected to change by Wednesday, when "all areas should be at or slightly above normal as the high pressure ridge over us strengthens and offshore flow gets stronger as well."
High temperatures will be in the lower 70s across most of the Southland Wednesday.
By Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday, strong Santa Ana winds will buffet much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
A wind advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Thursday in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, with the NWS predicting northeast winds of 25 to 40 mph, with gusts of up to 55 mph, primarily in the hills.
Along the Malibu Coast, a wind advisory will be in effect from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, with similar wind speeds predicted.
A high wind watch will be in effect from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening in the Los Angeles County and Santa Monica mountains. Forecasters said mountain winds will range from 35 to 45 mph, gusting as high as 75 mph in the western San Gabriels and western Santa Monicas.
A high wind watch will also be in effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening in Orange County coastal and inland areas and in the Santa Ana mountains and foothills.
Winds are expected to die down by Friday, with cooler weather likely to return and continue through the weekend. Forecasters said there's a chance of some light rain returning late Sunday or early Monday.