Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Los Angeles, CA

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589 FXUS66 KLOX 151222 AFDLOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA 522 AM PDT Sat Jun 15 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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15/454 AM. Strong to locally damaging north to northwest winds will affect the mountains of northwest Los Angeles County, the mountains of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and much of southern Santa Barbara County including the South Coast through early Sunday. Gusty winds will also affect the western Antelope Valley and foothills, some Los Angeles County Valleys, and the Central Coast today and tonight. Warm to hot conditions are expected today, with some cooling expected Sunday. Additional cooling is likely Monday with an increase in night through morning low clouds. A slow warming trend is expected for the middle of next week.
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&& .SHORT TERM (TDY-MON)...
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15/459 AM. Skies were clear across the entire forecast area this morning, although there were some low clouds just south of L.A. County which may push into south coastal sections for a few hours this morning. Any low clouds should dissipate by mid morning. The onshore pressure gradient between KLAX and KDAG has weakened during the past 24 hours, but the real story is that the N-S gradients have become increasingly offshore. The gradient between KSBA and KSMX was about 4.5 mb offshore, and onshore gradients between KLAX and KBFL and between KSBA and KBFL have turned offshore during the past 24 hours, both now running around 2.5 mb offshore. 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...15/1125Z. At 1000Z at KLAX, the marine layer was 300 ft deep. The top of the inversion was at 2800 ft with a temperature of 28 C. Overall, moderate to high confidence in 12Z TAF package. There is a 40-60% chance of MVFR VSBYs 12Z-17Z for coastal sites south of KSBA. There is a 50% chance of LIFR/VLIFR conditions at KLGB 12Z-16Z. Gusty northerly winds will develop today and continue through the TAF period. So, there could be some light turbulence/LLWS across the mountains and foothills. KLAX...Moderate to high confidence in 12Z TAF. There is a 50% chance that MVFR VSBYs will not develop in the 12Z-17Z time frame. There is a 10-15% chance of LIFR/VLIFR conditions 12Z-16Z. No significant easterly wind component is expected. KBUR...High confidence in 12Z TAF as CAVU conditions are anticipated through the period. && .MARINE...15/147 AM. For the Outer Waters, high confidence in current forecast. Winds have increased to Gale force levels this morning 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 and Sunday). 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. && .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...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 remains in effect until 11 AM PDT Sunday for zone 88. (See LAXNPWLOX). Wind Advisory in effect from 11 AM this morning to 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 from 9 AM this morning to 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 from 11 AM this morning 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...DB AVIATION...RAT MARINE...RAT BEACHES...RAT FIRE...Gomberg SYNOPSIS...DB weather.gov/losangeles Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=lox