Southern California Weather: Above Normal Temps Before Cooldown and Rain Chances

Current Weather and Air Quality

• ☀️ Above normal temperatures are expected to continue through Friday across Southern California, with highs in the 80s for the LA area.
• 💨 Yesterday's strong winds are still present in the mountains and foothills, though they are dropping off.
• ☁️ Low clouds and fog were dense in some areas yesterday morning and are present again today, with gradual clearing observed.
• 😷 An air quality alert remains in effect until early Saturday morning for most of Southern California, with moderate air quality conditions.

Weekend Transition and Cooling Trend

• 📉 A cooling trend is anticipated just in time for the weekend, with temperatures dropping significantly on Saturday and Sunday.
• 🌊 An atmospheric river is expected to brush the Central Coast this weekend, potentially bringing increasing cloud cover and a slight chance of very light rainfall.
• 🌫️ As offshore flow transitions to onshore flow, expect increasing areas of low clouds and fog returning Friday night and Saturday morning, possibly with some drizzle.

Upcoming Rain Chances

• 🌧️ The next significant chance of rain for Southern California is forecast to begin Tuesday afternoon, continuing through Wednesday and possibly Thursday.
• ⛈️ This rainfall is attributed to a series of Pacific storm systems and atmospheric rivers.
• ❄️ Scattered chances of cold and unsettled weather are possible for the weekend after Christmas.

Regional Forecast Highlights

• 🍊 In Orange County, highs will be in the 80s today, dipping into the 70s by Friday, with cooler, partly cloudy skies Saturday and Sunday.
• 🏞️ The San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley will see highs in the 80s today, with low clouds and fog, followed by mild temperatures and a chance of rain starting Tuesday and Wednesday.
• 🏖️ Coastal areas can expect highs in the 70s with low clouds, fog, and breezy conditions continuing through the weekend.