LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A day of moderate temperatures is in store for the Southland today on the eve of a wet and cool weekend.
Mostly cloudy skies were forecast in L.A. County today, along with highs of 66 degrees on Mount Wilson; 71 at LAX; 72 in Long Beach and Avalon; 74 in Downtown L.A. and Burbank; 75 in San Gabriel; 76 in Woodland Hills; 77 in Lancaster; and 78 in Palmdale. On Saturday, highs will fall to the high 50s and low 60s amid rain, with snow expected on Mount Wilson along with highs in the low 40s, followed on Sunday by highs similar to Saturday's, plus showers. Sunny skies will return Monday and a slow warming trend will get underway.
Orange County will have a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies today, with clouds appearing over some inland cities and Santa Ana Mountain areas, along with highs of 64 degrees on Santiago Peak; 69 in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach; 70 in San Clemente and on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 74 at Fremont Canyon and Fullerton; 75 at Trabuco Canyon, Yorba Linda, Anaheim and Mission Viejo; and 76 in Irvine. Saturday's temperatures will be up to 24 degrees lower, amid showers in most communities and snow showers on Santiago Peak in the Santa Anas. Sunny skies will return Monday and temperatures -- still in the 40s, 50s and 60s -- will start to slowly ramp up.
The NWS forecast between a 10th and a quarter-inch of rain in most locations this weekend and a half-inch in the mountains and foothills, 1 to 3 inches of snow above 5,000 feet, a dusting at the 4,000-foot level, likely hitting Interstate 5 around The Grapevine, and west-to-northwest wind gusts of 25 to 45 miles per hour.
The NWS this morning issued a winter weather advisory that will be in effect from 9 tonight until 10 Sunday night in the San Gabriel Mountains in both L.A. and Ventura Counties. It forecast snow accumulation of 3 to 6 inches above 6,000 feet, though it will be 6 to 9 inches in places. A dusting that could produce 1-inch accumulation is possible between 4,000 to 5,000 feet, including the Grapevine portion of Interstate 5, amid wind gusts of 40-45 miles per hour, said the NWS.
Roadways that may be affected by accumulating snow and gusty winds include Highway 33 in Ventura County and Interstate 5 and Angeles Crest Highway in L.A. County, the NWS warned.
Forecasters attributed the expected inclement weather to a low-pressure system out of the Pacific.
Along the L.A. County coastline, a high surf advisory will go into effect at 4 pm., lasting to 4 p.m. Sunday, the NWS said. The surf will reach 3 to 6 feet in height, and a high risk of rip currents will exist, according to the NWS. Similar conditions will prevail Saturday, although the surf is expected to reach a height of 5 to 8 feet at west-facing beaches.
Off the coast, a gale watch will be in effect from this afternoon to late tonight amid winds of 20 to 35 knots, gusts of 40 and 45 knots, and combined seas of 7-10 feet when wind strength is at its most severe, forecasters said.
“Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions,'' urged an NWS statement. “Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.''
Additionally, a small craft advisory will be in force until 9 p.m. in San Luis Obispo County, serving to warn inexperienced sailors to stay out of the water, especially in small vessels.
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