Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Diego, CA

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639 FXUS66 KSGX 210354 AFDSGX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Diego CA 854 PM PDT Mon May 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A large-scale trough over western North America will persist through this week. Temperatures will remain below seasonal averages with gusty winds across the mountains and deserts. Low clouds will continue nights and mornings, retreating back to the coast each afternoon.
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&& .DISCUSSION...
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FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE... SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES... Low clouds are rapidly developing across the coastal areas and valleys and even into the mountains this evening. The 00Z KNKX sounding shows the marine inversion based roughly near 3000 ft MSL, but based on the location of cloud development along the coastal slopes it appears to be closer to 5000-5500 ft inland. Breezy west winds with gusts mostly 25-45 mph continue across portions of the mountains and deserts and will persist tonight, gradually weakening into Tuesday morning. The upper level short wave trough continues to move east on Tuesday with a weaker long wave trough remaining across the Western US. Despite the troughing, minor height rises and some decrease in onshore flow will allow for some warming inland, weaker winds in the mountains and deserts, and a shallower marine layer Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday will be the warmest day of the week, though highs remain around 2-6 degrees below normal for the coasts to the mountains, and right around normal in the deserts. Upper level troughing will dominate through the end of the week with an occasional short wave passing through the mean flow. The trough becomes more amplified Friday with a short wave trough axis moving through on Saturday. This will bring gradual cooling across the area for the second half of the week with highs returning to around 5 to as much as 15 degrees below normal, with the greatest departure in the valleys and mountains. The marine layer will be deeper again with clouds extending into the valleys and even the lower coastal mountain slopes and limited clearing along the coast each day. Gusty west winds will increase across the mountains and deserts each afternoon into the late night Thursday through Saturday as well. The main trough finally shifts east on Sunday with an upper level high over Mexico beginning to move westward and amplify into early next week, bringing some warming and less marine layer cloud cover for Sunday and Monday.
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&& .AVIATION...
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210330Z...Coast/Valleys...Areas of BKN/OVC low clouds will occur overnight with bases 1500-2500 ft MSL and variable tops 2500-5500 ft MSL with areas of terrain obscurations. Local VIS 3-5 miles will occur in the valleys 07Z-17Z Tue in BR. Clearing will occur in most areas 15Z-19Z Tue, even though some TEMPO SCT conditions will occur 09Z-15Z Tue. Areas of low clouds will develop again Tue evening near the coast. Mountains/Deserts...Areas of terrain obscurations in clouds will occur on the coastal mountain slopes below 5500 feet through 15Z Tue. Areas of westerly winds with gusts 25-40 kt will continue through 14Z Tue along the mountain crests, desert slopes, through mountain passes and into the deserts, along with MOD UDDFS and LLWS. Blowing dust will locally reduce VIS to 5 miles in the deserts. Winds will be lighter Tue but local gusts 25-30 kt will occur Tue afternoon/evening. Otherwise, clear skies with unrestricted VIS will continue through Tue evening.
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&& .MARINE...
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No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Saturday.
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&& .BEACHES...
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A series of southwest swells of 2-3 ft at 16-18 seconds from 200-220 degrees will produce elevated surf of mostly 3-5 ft with highest sets on exposed SW facing beaches, as well as a high risk of rip currents at all beaches. The Beach Hazards Statement will expire this evening as most of the surf will be below 6 ft. Swell and surf will slowly lower Wednesday and Thursday.
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&& .SKYWARN... Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions. && .SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...Beach Hazards Statement until 11 PM PDT this evening for Orange County Coastal Areas-San Diego County Coastal Areas. PZ...None. && $$ PUBLIC...SS AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...Maxwell