Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Diego, CA

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876 FXUS66 KSGX 202034 AFDSGX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Diego CA 134 PM PDT Mon May 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... 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. An upper level disturbance moving across the region today will bring the coolest and windiest conditions overall. Low clouds will continue nights and mornings, retreating back to the coast each afternoon. && .DISCUSSION...
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FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE... SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES... This afternoon, low clouds have mostly cleared except from parts of Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego County coastal areas. The high clouds from this morning have moved east with the upper level trough axis. The low clouds will continue to clear for one or two more hours before beginning to fill in the areas west of the mtns. The marine layer may be marginally shallower tonight but low clouds are expected to cover the areas from the coast inland to the coastal mtn slopes by early tomorrow morning. Sfc pressure gradients are still onshore with 4.2 mb SAN-DAG and 6.2 mb SAN-IPL. This continues to support westerly winds gusting 30-50 mph in the wind-prone passes and canyons. The winds will steadily weaken overnight. From previous discussion... As the trough axis moves east, the trend will be toward a shallower marine layer and weaker winds. That should bring more sunshine west of the mountains and weaker winds in the mountains and deserts for Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures in the 60s to low 70s west of the mountains today represent up to 10 degrees below normal in the valleys. Tuesday and Wednesday will be a few degrees higher, approaching but still not achieving normal. A very weak trough rotates through California again Thursday into Saturday. This should deepen the marine layer again and extend low clouds into foothills each night and morning, and make it harder for coastal areas to get sunshine in the afternoons. This will also boost those seasonal winds in the mountains and deserts. The cooler weather starts Thursday, and right now, Saturday appears to be the coolest day, when temps will be more than 10 degrees below normal in the valleys. Next week the mean trough over the West appears to weaken, maybe making way for an actual ridge of high pressure. While ensembles paint a wide range of outcomes, most solutions indicate at least weaker low pressure and warmer weather next week.
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&& .AVIATION...
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202000Z...Coast/Valleys...Clearing has occurred in San Diego county and most of western Riverside County with residual stratocu cloud layer 2,500 to 3,500 ft AGL. Clearing is only partial in Orange County affecting SNA. The return of clouds will be patchy and slow after 02z and may not be widespread tonight as the marine layer settles (lowers) in after the disturbance today. There is slight offshore flow that accelerates clearing for ONT, SNA and SBD during early Tuesday morning. Mountains/Deserts...Clear skies with unrestricted VIS will continue through this evening. West to northwest winds near 15-25 kts will continue strenghten and expand across most desert locations. Wind gusts will range from 25-33 kts at PSP and TRM, locally near 45 kts in San Gorgonio mountain pass. There is around a 30 percent chance of a 35 kt gust at KPSP from 22Z Mon to 04Z Tue. Blowing dust could locally reduce VIS to 5 miles at times. Winds decreasing after 06z.
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&& .MARINE... No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Friday. && .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 3-5 ft with locally higher sets on exposed SW facing beaches, as well as a high risk of rip currents at all beaches. A Beach Hazards Statement is in effect through this evening. 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...
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CA...Beach Hazards Statement until 11 PM PDT this evening for Orange County Coastal Areas-San Diego County Coastal Areas. PZ...None.
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&& $$ PUBLIC...PG AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...Tardy