Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Los Angeles, CA

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134 FXUS66 KLOX 151659 AFDLOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA 959 AM PDT Sat Jun 15 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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15/959 AM. Warm to hot conditions are expected today, with some cooling expected Sunday and Monday. A slow warming trend is expected for the middle of next week. Strong to locally damaging north to northwest winds will affect much of southern Santa Barbara County, the Interstate 5 cooridor, and most mountains through Monday morning. The strongest winds for the area around Santa Barbara City will be this afternoon and night. Gusty winds will also affect the western Antelope Valley and foothills, some Los Angeles County Valleys, and the Central Coast today and tonight.
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&& .SHORT TERM (TDY-MON)...
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15/953 AM. ***UPDATE*** Broad downsloping offshore winds from the north have kept skies clear for most all of the region. Compressional heating overnight into this morning has driven temperates upward dramatically for many foothill areas. The current 24 hour temperature change ranges from 15 to 25 degrees for areas along the southern Ventura County Mountains and into the foothills of the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley. For the Santa Barbara South Coast and many cities along the Central Coast, the 24 hour temperatures change is around 10 to 15 degrees. Based on these observed trends, daytime highs have been increased for these areas, with near 100 degrees possible for the warmest locations. Temperature gradients will be sharp between the coasts and foothills for Santa Babara South Coast, ranging from the low 80s to around 100 degrees in the span of just a few miles. Compared to previously very temperate June Gloom conditions this month, heat impacts will be significant for the coastal foothills of Santa Barbara City and the Ojai Valley. A Heat Advisory is in effect for the Santa Barbara County South Coast and adjacent mountains, and there is 20-30% chance that further advisories will be issued for today for the interior valleys of Ventura and LA County (especially the Ojai Valley). Heat related precautions are advised. Strong temperature gradients will be present throughout in the region, including the San Fernando Valley, as warm downsloping wind competes with the cooling marine influence (our natural air conditioning). Skies are sunny except for a small amount of clouds over Long Beach and off the coasts of Los Angeles. This indicates continued southerly flow and cooling marine influence for the eastern Los Angeles County Coast. This will moderate temperatures for coastal cities near the Pales Verdes Peninsula, and intensify the temperature gradient between the coasts and coastal valleys. ***From Previous Discussion*** Gusty northwest to north winds were occurring across much of SBA County, the mtns of Ventura County, the I-5 Corridor and the foothills of the Antelope Valley early this morning, with wind gusts near or above advisory levels in many of these areas. As expected, it remained very warm in some of the foothill locations in southern SBA County, and in L.A. County with temps still around 80 degrees in some of these areas. A broad upper level trough will sag southward across the forecast area today and tonight, causing westerly flow aloft to increase. At the same time, NW to N winds at 700 mb and 850 mb will strengthen today. Northerly winds closer to the surface will also increase, driven by continued sharpening N-S offshore gradients which will peak this evening at 5.5 mb between KSBA and KSMX. In addition to all of this, there will be increasing broad scale subsidence across the region later today into tonight, helping to force winds toward the surface. Expect an increase in winds today, with High Wind Warning level gusts to 60 to 65 mph likely across portions of southern SBA County, the mountains of Ventura County, through the I-5 Corridor and in the Antelope Valley foothills. Advisory level winds are expected to push in the Santa Clarita Valley as well. Have expanded Wind Advisories to include the Central Coast from late this morning through this afternoon. Have also included Wind Advisories for western portions of the Antelope Valley floor from this afternoon through late tonight. There is a chance that advisory level winds will affect the Santa Susana mtns, and the northern San Fernando Valley, but for now, have kept winds just below thresholds. On the Central Coast, winds should peak this afternoon. In most of the remaining windy locations, expect the winds to peak this evening and early tonight. This particular sundowner wind event is expected to be rather widespread across southern Santa Barbara later today and tonight. Winds will likely affect many highly populated areas in the city of Santa Barbara and near Montecito and the adjacent foothills this afternoon into tonight. Warming at 950 mb and increased northerly flow should bring warming to most of the region today, except in the mtns, the Antelope Valley and the interior valleys of SLO County, where there should be slight cooling. Compressional warming of the downslope winds will likely bring very warm to hot weather to much of southern SBA County, including much of the city of Santa Barbara, and possibly even to near the beaches. High temperatures should rise into the 90s to around 100 in the foothills and interior portions of the city, and 90 degree temps may well reach some beach locations. There will likely be a very sharp temperature gradient near the coast of southern Santa Barbara County today. Confidence in temps reaching 90 degrees at the beaches is not especially high, since a very low inversion may prevent the winds and heat from reaching immediate beach locations. However, this particular pattern seems more likely than most to bring hot weather to the immediate south coast, especially late in the day. This will be quite a dramatic change from the very cool spring weather that has been the norm this year. While Sunday is not expected to be quite as hot as today will be, gusty north winds tonight will likely keep temps in the 70s or near 80 in the foothills all night, providing limited relief. Therefore, a Heat Advisory is in effect through Sun evening for the south coast of SBA County, and the Santa Ynez Range. The combination of gusty winds, very warm to hot conditions, and lowering humidities will bring elevated fire weather conditions to southern Santa Barbara county and much of the interior valleys, mountains, and Antelope Valley this weekend (See Fire Weather Planning Forecast for more details on fire weather concerns). Heights will continue to lower across the region tonight and Sun as the broad trough deepens slightly and sags southward. Expect limited low clouds tonight/Sun morning, though clouds will likely affect at least coastal sections of L.A. County, and possibly southern Ventura County due to a developing eddy circulation. The strong winds will likely dimish below warning levels by mid morning Sun, but N-S gradients will remain remaining steep, so advisory level winds may continue across southern SBA County, in the mtns of Ventura County and through the I-5 Corridor through Sun evening. Expect a few degrees of cooling in most areas Sun, though temps should still be above normal for the middle of June. An upper low will move into the Pac NW Sun night and Mon, with a sharpening trough across CA. N-S gradients will decrease, though they should remain steep enough for additional gusty winds late Mon into Mon night across southern SBA County. Onshore gradients will increase between KLAX and KDAG. Expect more widespread night thru morning low clouds and fog Sun night/Mon. Lowering heights, and cooling through the atmosphere should bring several degrees of cooling to most of the region on Mon. .LONG TERM (TUE-FRI)...15/522 AM. The trough will linger across the region Mon night and Tue, but heights will rise a bit. Night thru morning low clouds should be widespread in most coastal and in the lower valley areas, but northerly gradients may keep southern SBA County clear, with another round of gusty winds. Max temps on Tue should be similar to those Mon, with perhaps a couple of degrees of warming. Models are now showing a broad trough lingering across the region Wed thru Fri, but with gradual height rises. The general pattern looks conducive to widespread night thru morning low clouds in most coastal and lower valley areas. A strengthening inversion and increasing onshore flow may make for slower clearing, especially near the coast. N-S gradients, while weaker, should still be strong enough to maintain gusty northwest to north winds in terrain-favored areas such as the I-5 corridor, northern VTU County mtns, and southern SBA for much of next week. For the most part, expect wind gusts to remain below Wind Advisory thresholds Wed thru Fri, with perhaps a 20-30% chance of Wind Advisory level winds, especially in southern SBA County. Max temps should rise slightly in most areas Wed thru Fri, with the greatest warming across inland locations. By late next week, max temps could get close to 100 degrees in the Antelope Valley and the far interior valleys of SLO County.
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&& .AVIATION...
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15/1643Z. At 1600Z at KLAX, the marine layer was 1000 ft deep. The top of the inversion was at 5000 ft with a temperature of 25 C. Overall, moderate to high confidence in TAF package. CAVU conditions are anticipated at most locations through the period. However, CIG/VSBY restrictions in the returning marine layer affect coastal LA County tonight and Sun morning, including KLAX and KLGB. Onset timing of CIG/VSBY restrictions may vary by +/- 2 hours from current forecasts. Gusty northerly winds will develop today and continue through the TAF period, and there could be some light turbulence/LLWS across the mountains and foothills. KLAX...Moderate to high confidence in TAF. There is a 40% chance that CIG/VSBY restrictions do not develop. No significant easterly wind component is expected. KBUR...High confidence in TAF as CAVU conditions are anticipated through the period.
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&& .MARINE...
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15/931 AM. For the Outer Waters, high confidence in current forecast. Winds have increased to Gale force levels and will remain at Gale force levels through Monday. So, GALE WARNINGS will remain in place through Monday (with a 20% chance of Storm force winds today through Sunday night). Seas will peak in the 12 to 15 foot range today through Monday. For Tuesday through Wednesday, winds will subside, but remain at Small Craft Advisory (SCA) levels while seas drop below 10 feet. For the Inner Waters north of Point Sal, moderate to high confidence in current forecast. There is a 60-80% chance of Gale force winds today through Sunday and a GALE WARNING remains in effect. Seas will peak in the 10 to 13 foot range through Sunday. For Monday through Tuesday, there is a 60-80% chance of SCA level winds. On Wednesday, winds and seas are expected to remain below SCA levels. For the Inner Waters south of Point Conception, moderate to high confidence in current forecast. For the western Santa Barbara Channel, high confidence in SCA level winds increasing to Gale Force Winds today and continuing at Gale force levels through Sunday with a GALE WARNING remaining in effect. For Monday through Wednesday, there will be a 60-80% chance of SCA level winds across the western half of the Santa Barbara Channel. Elsewhere across the southern Inner Waters, there is a 20-30% chance of SCA level winds today through Sunday with high confidence in winds and seas remaining below SCA levels Monday through Wednesday. Across all of the coastal waters, steep and dangerous seas can be expected this weekend into at least early next week.
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&& .BEACHES...15/147 AM. Short-period wind waves, due to gale force winds, will generate significant surf conditions along the local beaches today through Monday. High surf conditions, 4 to 8 feet, will impact the beaches of Ventura county. For the beaches along the Central Coast as well as Los Angeles county, elevated surf conditions will continue through Monday. Along with the surf conditions, dangerous rip currents can be expected through the weekend. && .FIRE WEATHER...
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15/944 AM.
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&& Rapidly increasing northwest to north winds are expected to continue through early next week, peaking in intensity through tonight with a secondary peak late Sunday into early Monday. Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph will be common at times through the period for the Central Coast, mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and northwest Los Angeles County as well as Antelope Valley (strongest in the mountains and deserts). Isolated gusts to 65 mph will be possible in the strongest periods of wind across the Santa Ynez Range and I-5 corridor. Meanwhile, the air mass will warm and dry, with widespread 8 to 15 percent humidities in the mountains and deserts. High temperatures between 90 and 100 will be common inland of the beaches. Poor overnight recoveries in the foothills are also expected. This warm and dry air will descend into some coastal foothills, including southern Santa Barbara County. As a result, there is an elevated risk for fast growing grass fires over much of the area, that could transition into wildfires where the fuel beds are most abundant and dry. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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CA...Beach Hazards Statement in effect through Monday evening for zones 87-340-346-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX). Wind Advisory remains in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zone 88. (See LAXNPWLOX). Wind Advisory in effect until 8 PM PDT this evening for zones 340-341-346-347. (See LAXNPWLOX). High Wind Warning remains in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zones 349-351-376>378-381. (See LAXNPWLOX). Heat Advisory remains in effect until 8 PM PDT Sunday for zones 349>352. (See LAXNPWLOX). Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6 PM PDT this evening for zones 350-352-353. (See LAXNPWLOX). High Wind Warning remains in effect from 6 PM this evening to 11 AM PDT Sunday for zones 350-352-353. (See LAXNPWLOX). High Surf Advisory in effect until 7 PM PDT Monday for zone 354. (See LAXCFWLOX). Wind Advisory in effect from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Sunday for zone 383. (See LAXNPWLOX). PZ...Small Craft Advisory in effect until 11 AM PDT this morning for zones 645-650. (See LAXMWWLOX). Gale Warning in effect until 2 AM PDT Monday for zones 645-650. (See LAXMWWLOX). Gale Warning in effect until 7 PM PDT Monday for zones 670-673-676. (See LAXMWWLOX).
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&& $$ PUBLIC...DB/Schoenfeld AVIATION...Cohen/RAT MARINE...RAT/Cohen BEACHES...RAT FIRE...Munroe/Gomberg SYNOPSIS...DB/RS weather.gov/losangeles Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=lox