LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Summer will intrude into the Southland's winter today, with warm Santa Ana winds sending temperatures in some communities into the eighties, or at least 10 degrees above normal.
The region will experience weak to moderate Santa Anas through Thursday, with the strongest expected today and Wednesday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan.
In L.A. County, a wind advisory will be in effect in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains and the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys from 7 a.m. today until 3 p.m. Wednesday, with northeast winds 20 to 30 mile per hour accompanied by gusts of up to 45 mph in all four areas, according to the NWS.
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles,” warned an NWS statement. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.”
Elsewhere -- along the coast, in beach cities, Downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Long Beach -- a wind advisory will also be in force from 7 a.m. today until 3 p.m. Wednesday amid winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of up to 35 mph.
Affecting temperatures will be the Santa Anas and a ridge of high pressure aloft, Kaplan said, noting that Downtown today will reach around 83 degrees, or about 14 degrees above normal, while a high of around 82 is expected in Woodland Hills, or about 11 degrees higher than normal. The high in Downtown on Thursday may reach 85 degrees, he said.
Kaplan also noted this has been a weak winter, with the region having received only about 70 percent of the normal volume of rain. Downtown L.A. should have had 10.43 inches but so far has recorded 7.32.
The NWS forecast sunny skies in L.A. County today and highs of 63 degrees on Mount Wilson; 69 in Palmdale; 70 in Lancaster; 74 in Saugus and Avalon; 78 at LAX; 80 in San Gabriel; 81 in Long Beach; and 82 in Downtown L.A., Woodland Hills and Pasadena. Wednesday's temperatures will be about the same, but Thursday's, a few degrees higher.
Sunny and windy conditions were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 57 on Santiago Peak; 69 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 72 in San Clemente; 74 in Laguna Beach; 75 in Fremont Canyon; 76 in Newport Beach; 78 in Trabuco Canyon; 80 in Yorba Linda; 81 in Mission Viejo; 83 in Fullerton, Irvine and Anaheim. The pattern over the coming days will be the same as in L.A. County, with highs about the same Wednesday but a few degrees higher Thursday, including 86 in Anaheim.
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