Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Los Angeles, CA

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599 FXUS66 KLOX 220038 AFDLOX Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA 538 PM PDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...21/236 PM. Higher chances of sunshine with slight warming is expected Wednesday as onshore flow weakens. Then cooler with increasing marine layer clouds again the latter half of next week, followed by a warming trend starting Sunday. && .SHORT TERM (TDY-FRI)...21/204 PM. The broad positively tilted trough will persist over the region with minimal changes through Thursday. Onshore flow decreased today, resulting in a break from cloudy skies. This morning some coastal areas saw sunny to partly cloudy sunrises, followed by complete clearing across the region (except for the eastern Santa Barbara south coast) by the afternoon. Very low confidence in the low cloud forecast tonight into tomorrow morning. There is a 30-50% chance of sunny skies by the mid Wednesday morning for the majority of coastal areas, and will offer the best opportunity for sunny skies Santa Barbara County South Coast through Friday. By Wednesday afternoon, NW to W winds will strengthen across the Antelope Valley and foothill and the I-5 cooridor. At this time winds will likely remain below advisory levels, with gusts 25 to 40 mph common. Thursday, the wide upper level trough will intensify, and onshore gradients will increase. Marine layer clouds will likely linger longer into the day, especially near the coast, and this will cause temperatures to trend downward by around 1 to 3 degrees. Highs will be 3 to 6 degrees below normal, locally up to 10 degrees. Friday a shortwave trough, embedded in the larger troughing pattern, will quickly pass over the region. This disturbance may support night to morning marine layer drizzle for coastal areas and a 5-10% chance of afternoon showers/thunderstorms for interior mountains. Significant onshore flow and a cooling airmass aloft will drop temperates to 6 to 10 degrees below normal (locally up to 13 degrees). Friday will likely be the coldest day of the forecast period, with daytime highs in the low- to- mid 60s for coasts, around 65-70 for valleys, and mid 70s for deserts. .LONG TERM (SAT-TUE)...21/226 PM. The GFS and ECMWF are in good agreement for the weekend into early next week. By Saturday, the shortwave trough will have exited the region, with the board upper level trough remaining. Typical deep marine layer clouds are likely to extend across the coasts and valleys, with minimal chances of clearing for coastal areas. Onshore gradients will maintain gusty winds across the interior areas during afternoon and evening, particularly for the Antelope Valley and foothills. Sunday through Tuesday, upper level heights are expected increase, resulting in a weak ridging pattern. The marine layer clouds will lower in height, due to the higher pressure, and will not reach as far inland. The warm airmass aloft combined with the reduction in the influence of marine layer clouds, will result in a general warming trend for all areas, excluding near coastal locations. && .AVIATION...
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22/0035Z. At 2343Z at KLAX, the marine layer was 1400 ft deep. The top of the inversion was at 4800 feet with a temperature of 16 C. High confidence in KPMD, KWJF, and KPRB TAFs. High confidence elsewhere through 03Z, then low confidence. Timing of cigs may be off by 3 hours and off by 1 flight cat. There is a chance that VFR conditions prevail for KBUR(30%), KVNY(30%), KCMA(20%), KOXR(20%), and KSBA(30%). There is a 20% chance of no clearing at KLAX and KSMO through the period. KLAX...High confidence in TAF through 03Z, then low confidence. There is a 20% chance that cigs tonight will hold off until at least 09Z. There is a 20% chance of no clearing through the period Good confidence that any east wind component will be 5 knots or less. KBUR...High confidence in TAF through 07Z, then low confidence. There is a 30% chance that conds will remain VFR tonight.
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&& .MARINE...21/132 PM. Moderate confidence in forecast, except low-moderate confidence for the inner waters N of Pt. Sal and in the western SBA Channel. In the outer waters, Small Craft Advisory (SCA) level winds and seas will become widespread through early this evening and continue much of the time thru Sat. There may be a lull in the winds during the very late night thru morning hours, especially Thu night/Fri morning. There is a 20% chance of gales Wed afternoon/eve. In the inner waters N of Pt. Sal, there is a 30% chance of SCA level winds this afternoon/eve, and a 40-50% chance during the afternoon/eve hours Wed. SCA level winds are likely during the afternoon/eve hours Thu and Sat. In the inner water S of Pt. Sal, there is a 30% chance of SCA level winds in western portions of the SBA Channel this afternoon/eve, then a 40-50% chance during the afternoon/eve hours Wed thru Sat. Otherwise, SCA conds are not expected. A long period south to southwest swell will continue to subside through Wed. Larger than usual breaking waves nearshore and stronger currents near most harbor entrances will become less common during this time frame. && .LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...Beach Hazards Statement in effect through Wednesday afternoon for zones 87-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX). PZ...Small Craft Advisory in effect until 3 AM PDT Friday for zones 670-673-676. (See LAXMWWLOX). && $$ PUBLIC...Schoenfeld/Munroe AVIATION...Lund MARINE...DB/Schoenfeld/RM SYNOPSIS...Gomberg/Schoenfeld weather.gov/losangeles Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=lox