Weak to moderate Santa Ana winds are expected through Friday, with the strongest winds expected tonight into Thursday. Conditions will gradually warm Thursday through the middle of next week. High clouds will occur intermittently through the next week with low clouds unlikely.
For extreme southwestern California including Orange, San Diego, western Riverside and southwestern San Bernardino counties,
A 1030 mb surface low will develop over the Great Basin today, switching the pressure gradient offshore and bringing periods of Santa Ana winds to the foothills and coastal mountain slopes. Gusty winds out of the northeast to east will become more widespread tonight into Thursday morning. Along and below the coastal slopes of the mountains and through passes peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph, locally up to 55 mph are expected. Northeast to east winds will continue into Friday morning, but with decreasing coverage and strength. Gusts on Friday are expected to peak at 35 mph. Lowest daytime humidity on Thursday and Friday for the valleys and inland coastal areas will fall to 15 to 25 percent.
Overnight temperatures tonight will fall into the 30s in wind sheltered valley locations and in the High Desert. Daytime high temperatures will gradually warm Thursday through the middle of next week. Highs Tuesday and Wednesday will be 10 to 18 degrees above average for inland areas. Persistent weak offshore flow into next week will keep low clouds mostly absent from the coast. Periods of high clouds will occur at times.
032100z. Coasts/Valleys/Foothills, SCT to BKN Low clouds have been hanging out along the San Diego coast and Valleys with bases around 2400-5000 FT MSL. North to northeast winds have been gusting 20-30 kts in the foothills and have spread into valleys below the Cajon Pass (including KONT). These winds will strengthen to as high as 45 kts in the foothills after 04Z this evening. Areas of LLWS and MOD up/downdrafts are expected in lee side of the mountains. Strong winds out of the north to northeast will continue through the TAF period, beginning to ease late Thursday into early Friday morning.
Higher Mountains/Deserts, VFR conditions today and tonight with a FEW to SCT high clouds around 20000-25000 ft MSL. North to northeast winds gusting 25-40 kts through mountain passes and along east- facing slopes in the San Bernardo and Riverside mountains will slowly weaken temporarily after 00Z Thursday before they increase again after 04Z to 20-30 kts through the end of the TAF period.
No hazardous marine conditions are expected today through Sunday.
Very high tides will occur each morning today through Friday, threatening coastal flooding, minor tidal overflow and beach erosion. Chances of these impacts are higher this morning and Thursday morning as elevated surf up to 5-6 feet combines with the high tides, mostly in San Diego County. Check the Coastal Hazard Message for details.
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement through Friday morning for Orange County Coastal Areas-San Diego County Coastal Areas.
PZ, None.
