Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard Ca

1012 am PDT Fri Oct 23 2026

Synopsis

23/524 AM.

A relatively quiet Friday will transition into a weak Santa Ana Wind event this weekend, bringing drier conditions and warmer temperatures to the region into next week.

Short Term

(tdy-Sun), 23/911 AM.

***UPDATE***

The weather is settling down today with just a few little showers left over, mainly in western Santa Barbara County in the northwest flow. Can't completely rule out a brief shower in other others through the morning but otherwise dry with highs in the 60s and 70s. Light onshore flow today will switch to light offshore Saturday and continuing well into next week. Some low end Santa Ana winds are likely, mainly in the LA Mountains Sunday or Monday.

***From Previous Discussion***

The main upper level low has weakened and moved over into the Great Basin. A progressive shortwave has phased with another main trough in the PACNW resulting in an elongated piece of vorticity. This will move south and deepen over Socal. With this feature, we can expect weak northerly flow, ascent, and enough orographic lifting to generate some showers tomorrow afternoon & early evening over interior Ventura and San Gabriels mountains. Any shower that develops will likely dissipate as it moves south towards the LA Basin due to downsloping. However, these showers could hang together long enough to see a few raindrops over San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. Rain Chances: 10-25% highest over mtns.

By Saturday, Sunny skies should prevail. Although weak, offshore flow should peak in the morning indicated by LAX-DAG/SMX-BFL (east) -2 mb and LAX-BFL -4 mb (north) resulting in sub-advisory winds confined to typical Santa Ana wind corridor. Strongest across the San Gabriels topping out 35-40 mph in favored terrain such as ridgetops. 500mb heights should rise some and pressure gradients should climb back to the neutral territory on Sunday resulting in light winds and a few degrees of warming away from the coast. Temperatures should be near normal by this point. A shallow marine layer may return to Central coast.

Long Term

(Mon-Thu), 23/524 AM.

A weak Santa Ana event will continue into next week, allowing for warmer (near normal high temps) and drier conditions to prevail. These winds will likely stay confined to the mountains and some valleys struggling to reach advisory levels even in favored spots such as Santa Susana and San Gabriels mtns (30% chance). By Wed or Thurs, onshore flow is likely to return. There are some model solutions indicating a return of wet weather just after Halloween.

Aviation

23/1712z.

At 1633Z at KLAX, there was no marine layer nor an inversion.

Generally high confidence in VFR TAFs, with very brief MVFR cigs possible at times for all sites except for KWJF/KPMD through this tonight. 10% chance for -SHRA at KBUR/KVNY through this evening, 5% chance for remaining LA County sites.

KLAX, High confidence in TAF. VFR conds expected with brief periods of MVFR cigs possible through tonight. 5% chance of brief -SHRA through this evening. Good confidence that any east wind component remains below 8 kt.

KBUR, High confidence in TAF. VFR conds expected with brief periods of MVFR cigs possible through tonight. 10% chance of brief -SHRA through this evening.

Marine

23/928 AM.

Gusty west to northwest Small Craft Advisory (SCA) winds will impact most of the waters today through tonight, including the western half of the Santa Barbara Channel, potentially extending into the eastern portion as well. Seas will build to near 10 feet across portions of the outer waters through this evening. Otherwise, relatively quiet conditions are expected through the weekend except for localized SCA northeast wind gusts nearshore from Point Mugu through the Malibu coast in the morning hours Saturday & Sunday.

Northwest winds will increase next week, with around a 50% chance of SCA level winds Monday through at least mid-week.

Beaches

23/928 AM.

Very high tides between 7.5 and at least 8.0 feet are expected during the morning hours of Sunday-Thursday from Los Angeles (highest tides) north to the Central Coast. Due to the very high tides, at least minor coastal flooding impacts can be expected at any low lying beach areas, not just south facing beaches as has been the case the last couple of months.

While we generally aren't seeing much in the way of any significant swells during this period, there is a small potential for a slightly larger, long period swell from the south direction Wednesday-Thursday that could create enough energy to produce some more impactful coastal flooding.

At this point, Coastal Flood Advisories are likely for the entire coast Sunday-Thursday and there is a low potential for localized Coastal Flood Warnings if a larger swell develops.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, NONE. PZ, Small Craft Advisory in effect from 2 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening for zone 650. (See LAXMWWLOX). Small Craft Advisory in effect until 3 AM PDT Saturday for zones 670-673-676. (See LAXMWWLOX).

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