National Weather Service forecasters say a cold storm system out of the Pacific Northwest will bring Southern California rain, lower temperatures, high winds and perilously rough seas today.
“Cooler unsettled weather will affect southwest California Monday through Wednesday of this week,” said an NWS statement, adding that temperatures would be between 12 and 20 degrees lower than they have been — about 10 degrees below normal, said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson.
Those conditions are the result of “the first relatively cold storm system of the season,” the statement said. The weather system nay generate thunderstorms over San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties this afternoon and evening.
The most rain will fall over the Central Coast and adjoining foothills, with between a quarter and three quarters of an inch expected, while Ventura and Los Angeles counties are likely to see less than a quarter-inch, with the highest volumes expected in the mountains and foothills, the NWS said.
Forecasters said they expect patchy drizzle in the Southland this morning, followed by a 50 percent chance of rain this afternoon — beginning around 2 or 3 p.m., according to Thompson.
In the San Gabriel Mountains, the snow level will drop to around 5,500 feet by Monday night, and between one and two inches could accumulate above 6,000 feet by early Tuesday morning. Also expected in the mountains, as well as in the Antelope Valley, are gusty southwest winds tonight, forecasters said.
They forecast gusty southwest-to-west winds by this afternoon blowing at between 20 and 35 miles per hour, gusting to up to 50 mph, which could topple trees and power lines, damage property and make driving difficult, especially in high-profile vehicles.
A wind advisory will be in effect in the San Gabriels, the Antelope Valley and Santa Catalina Island from 10 this morning until 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Additionally, there could be gale-force winds along the coast, gusts of up to 35 knots per hour, and a high risk of rip currents near all area beaches through Tuesday, forecasters said, though as of this morning no high surf advisory was in effect south of Santa Barbara County.
The NWS forecast highs today of 61 on Mount Wilson; 66 in Lancaster; 67 in Palmdale and Saugus; 68 in Avalon and at LAX; 69 in Pasadena and Burbank; 70 in Long Beach and San Gabriel; 71 in Woodland Hills; 72 in downtown L.A. and San Clemente; 73 in Newport Beach; 74 in Anaheim, Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach; 75 in Fullerton; 76 in Yorba Linda and Irvine. Tuesday’s temperatures, under cloudy skies, will be about the same.
Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, meanwhile, announced that, with city financial backing, it opened two emergency homeless shelters Sunday — a month early — making 220 beds available through the end of March in anticipation of a rough El Nino winter. They are at the Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church at 11066 Norris Ave. in Pacoima and at the National Guard Armory at 12860 Arroyo St. in Sylmar.
