LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A three-day hot spell got underway today amid strong winds.
Downtown L.A. is forecast by the National Weather Service to reach highs of 78 degrees Fahrenheit today, 86 Friday and 84 Saturday. The normal downtown high at this time of the year is 73, said NWS meteorologist David Sweet.
Woodland Hills, which promises to be L.A. County's warmest community this week, will reach a high of 84 today and 93 Friday and Saturday, with all three forecasts eclipsing the normal of 74.
At the same time, strong winds will buffet the region, especially in the San Gabriel Mountains. A wind advisory was ordered to be in effect in the San Gabriels until 9 a.m. but, just as it was about to expire, was extended for 24 hours.
Forecast for the San Gabriels today are northwest winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour, gusting to 50 mph, with forecasters saying the wind will be strongest through the Interstate 5 Corridor. Somewhat tamer winds are expected in the rest of the county.
The NWS forecast sunny skies today and highs of 66 on Mount Wilson; 71 at LAX and Avalon; 75 in Lancaster; 77 in Palmdale; 78 in Downtown L.A. and Long Beach; 79 in Burbank; 80 in San Gabriel and Saugus; 82 in Pasadena and 84 in Woodland Hills.
Sunny skies were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 66 in Laguna Beach; 67 in San Clemente; 68 in Newport Beach; 76 in Irvine and Mission Viejo; 79 in Anaheim; 81 in Fullerton; and 82 in Yorba Linda.
Temperatures will climb by as much as 11 degrees Friday and remain roughly the same on Saturday amid continuing strong winds. Like in Woodland Hills Yorba Linda will reach the low 90s Friday and Saturday.