Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Los Angeles, CA

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053 FXUS66 KLOX 150616 AFDLOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA 1116 PM PDT Fri Jun 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS...14/843 PM. Strong to locally damaging north to northwest winds will affect the interior mountains in northwest Los Angeles, northern and central Ventura County, and southern and eastern Santa Barbara Counties, as well as the Santa Barbara County South Coast and Santa Ynez Range. The timing of these winds will be this evening through the weekend. Warm to hot conditions will affect the region with sunny skies on Saturday, and a slight cooling trend is expected for Sunday. Dry conditions are expected through the weekend. Low clouds will return to the coasts and coastal valleys next week. && .SHORT TERM (FRI-MON)...14/842 PM. The upper level pattern tonight through Monday will feature a broad upper level trough, that will sag over the region with generally zonal flow aloft. In the low levels, the pattern becomes much more significant. Strong north to northwest flow will begin to strengthen tonight, with the latest NAM model showing 40-50 kts at 950 MB over the coastal waters at times into Monday morning. As winds will turn counterclockwise with height, related weak cold advection will allow for general subsidence causing the gust potential to increase at the surface. The strong low-level winds are driven by impressive northerly pressure gradients near the surface. As of 7 pm, we are seeing the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria pressure gradient at -4 mb and is expected to peak at around -4.5 mb tonight, then -5.5 mb by late Saturday afternoon/evening. In addition, the Santa Barbara- Bakersfield gradient is currently around 0 mb, and is expected to trend sharply offshore tonight to around -4 mb by early Saturday morning. As of 8 pm, already seeing northwest winds increasing across the favored areas with gusts between 30 and 50 mph common. For tonight, the increased upper level wind support, cold air advection, and tightening northerly pressure gradients will likely bring warning level wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph for the western Santa Barbara County South Coast (especially near Point Conception) and adjacent mountains, the Ventura County mountains, the I-5 Corridor, and the Antelope Valley western foothills. Highways 101 and 154 (especially near Gaviota and San Marcos Passes) will be particularly susceptible to strong cross winds especially for locations below north-to-south oriented canyons. The most western portions of the Antelope Valley may reach advisory level winds this weekend, but such impacts are expected to be highly localized. Due to channeling of wind down the I-5 corridor, winds are expected to build to advisory level at times through Sunday morning for the Santa Clarita Valley. There is a slight chance of local gusts up to 35 to 40 mph reaching the northwestern San Fernando Valley, including areas like Porter Ranch and the I-5 and 210 intersection. For the eastern portions of Santa Barbara County, including the eastern Santa Ynez Mountains, interior Mountain Ranges, and the eastern Santa Barbara South Coast, winds are expected to build to advisory level tonight. Warning level winds will then likely extend to the eastern portion Saturday afternoon and night, in part due to an increases in the northerly pressure gradients and more favorable upper level wind support. The upcoming sundowner wind event is expected to be widespread across southern Santa Barbara county through Sunday night. In addition, the sundowner winds will likely persist for longer duration than normal across the western portions. And also of note, the sundowner winds will likely impact the more populated areas near Santa Barbara/Montecito and the adjacent foothills Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. The combination of gusty winds, very warm temperatures, and lowering humidities will bring elevated fire weather conditions to southern Santa Barbara county and much of the interior valleys, mountains, and Antelope Valley through this weekend (See Fire Weather Planning Forecast for more details on fire weather concerns). *** From previous discussion *** With the northerly offshore wind, temperatures in most areas will be much warmer than normal. Of particular note, the HeatRisk indicates a localized hot-spot for heat-related impacts over the Santa Barbara County South Coast, where the potential will exist for temperatures to locally reach up to 100 degrees even near the coast. However, there is a moderate amount uncertainty with this pattern. Local TempStudy data indicates a wide range of daytime highs with similar atmospheric conditions. The uncertainty is a result of competing factors, mainly compressional heating from downsloping wind interacting with a cooling marine influence. Even with uncertainty in daytime highs, with elevated minimum temperatures and a dramatic swing from conditions earlier this month, heat will feel significant, and precautions are advised for this weekend. A Heat Advisory is in effect. The only areas expected to see marine stratus will be the LA County coast, and possibly the Ventura County coast by morning. Then rapid clearing should occur by late morning. High temperatures in the coasts and coastal valleys on LA and and Ventura Counties are expected to reach the 80s and perhaps around 90 away from the beaches. The strong winds will likely dimish below warning levels by mid to late morning Sun, but with north to south gradients remaining steep, advisory level winds are possible for many areas through Monday morning. A modest cooling trend is expected for Sunday into Monday, as midlevel heights continue falling over the western states by a reinforced upper trough. .LONG TERM (TUE-FRI)...14/301 PM. For middle to latter parts of next week, broad and high- amplitude upper troughing will persist across the western CONUS, as a series of cyclonic perturbations advance through the flow across the northwest states and adjacent Canada. Subsidence upstream of the trough will favor continued surface ridging over the east Pacific waters. This will maintain gusty northwest to north winds in terrain-favored areas such as the I-5 corridor and nearby VTA County Mountains and western Antelope Valley Foothills. Present indications are that gusts should remain below Wind Advisory thresholds starting Tuesday. However, there will be some possibility for occasional advisory-level gusts (20% chance) if smaller-scale enhancements to the east Pacific surface ridging were to materialize. The overall coast-parallel orientation of the low-level flow across the coastal waters -- potentially favoring mesoscale eddy development around the southern Channel Islands -- along with an increasingly onshore surface pressure gradient across the larger- scales, suggest that marine stratus will likely be supported throughout middle and latter parts of next week. This would especially be the case over a broader area of the coasts and coastal valleys south of Point Conception. This could be accompanied by night and morning fog and/or drizzle. Scattering out and/or clearing of marine stratus should be less and less from day to day as the marine layer deepens. Meanwhile, compressional heating from downslope flow over interior areas, beneath gradually building midlevel heights, will support a warming trend farther inland through late week. This will strengthen the temperature gradient across the forecast area from day to day, with high temperatures by late next week reaching the middle and upper 90s to around 100 degrees across the interior valleys. High temperatures closer to the coast may not rise above the upper 60s or lower 70s. Otherwise, lacking midlevel moisture will prevent precipitation development through the end of next week. && .AVIATION...
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15/0615Z. At 06Z at KLAX, the marine layer was 400 ft deep. The top of the inversion was at 3300 ft with a temperature of 29 C. Expect clear skies and VFR conds thru the period. The possible exception is for some local MVFR an vsbys through the early morning hours, and some possible LIFR to VLIFR cigs in coastal sections of L.A. County from 11Z-16Z KLAX...Moderate to high confidence in TAF. For tonight, there is a 20-25% chance of IFR cigs 11Z-16Z. No significant easterly wind component is expected. KBUR...High confidence in TAF with VFR conds thru the pd.
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&& .MARINE...14/941 PM. For the Outer Waters, moderate to high confidence in current forecast. Gale Force winds have started through most of the outer waters, and are expected to continue into Monday. Seas will peak in the 12 to 15 foot range this weekend. GALE WARNINGS are in effect through Monday. High- end Gale Force Winds are expected especially over PZZ670 and PZZ673, where there is also a 20-30% percent chance of Storm Force gusts (48 knots or greater) Saturday through Sunday. On Tuesday, winds are expected to subside to SCA levels. For the Inner Waters north of Point Sal, moderate to high confidence in current forecast. Strong SCA level winds have developed, and winds are expected to increase to Gale Force Winds Saturday through Sunday when a GALE WARNING is in effect. 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 Saturday through Sunday when a GALE WARNING is in effect. For the rest of the southern Inner Waters, winds are not expected to be as strong, though there is a 20-30% chance of SCA level winds Saturday through Sunday. Across all of the coastal waters, steep and dangerous seas can be expected this weekend into at least early next week. && .BEACHES...14/943 PM. Hazardous beach conditions are expected to develop this evening into tonight, and then continue through this weekend and early next week. Significant wind-wave energy from relatively short- period swell -- around 10-second wave periods generated by Gale Force Winds winds over the nearby coastal waters -- will impact all of the beaches starting later today. This will bring elevated surf conditions and dangerous rip currents through early next week. The latest data suggests that surf of 4-8 feet will likely affect the Ventura County beaches, where a High Surf Advisory is in effect. Elevated surf, with a 30-50% chance for High Surf conditions, is expected for west-facing beaches along the Central Coast and Los Angeles County. Locally elevated surf is expected for the Santa Barbara County South Coast beaches, as well. && .FIRE WEATHER...14/941 PM. Rapidly increasing northwest to north winds are expected tonight, especially across southern Santa Barbara County, the Ventura county mountains, and I5 corridor where gusts of 35 to 50 mph are likely with isolated gusts to 65 mph possible. 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. The gusty wind pattern is expected to continue into early next week. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...Beach Hazards Statement in effect through Monday evening for zones 87-340-346-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX). Wind Advisory now in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zone 88. (See LAXNPWLOX). High Wind Warning remains in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zones 349-351. (See LAXNPWLOX). Heat Advisory remains in effect from 9 AM Saturday to 8 PM PDT Sunday for zones 349>352. (See LAXNPWLOX). Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6 PM PDT Saturday for zones 350-352-353. (See LAXNPWLOX). High Wind Warning remains in effect from 6 PM Saturday 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). High Wind Warning now in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zones 376>378-381. (See LAXNPWLOX). PZ...Small Craft Advisory in effect until 11 AM PDT Saturday for zones 645-650. (See LAXMWWLOX). Gale Warning in effect from 11 AM Saturday to 2 AM PDT Monday for zones 645-650. (See LAXMWWLOX). Gale Warning in effect until 2 PM PDT Monday for zones 670-673-676. (See LAXMWWLOX). && $$ PUBLIC...Gomberg/Schoenfeld/Cohen AVIATION...DB MARINE...Phillips/Cohen BEACHES...Cohen FIRE...Gomberg SYNOPSIS...Cohen/Schoenfeld weather.gov/losangeles Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=lox