Clouds Due for Weekend; Rain? Still up in Air

Although some sun may shine through clouds this weekend, light rain may dampen outdoor activities, according to the National Weather Service.

“Three sources of moisture are waiting in the wings,” forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said Thursday.

A weak low-pressure system off the Central California coast, a dissipating weather front about 400 to 500 miles out at sea and a huge area of subtropical rain southwest of San Diego all threaten to bring rain to the Southland, he said.

The systems may weaken before they arrive here--pushing in only clouds--Shigehara said, or they may bring rain.

“It is a very uncertain forecast. We can’t rule out rain, but the forecast may change to a dry one by the weekend,” Shigehara said. If it does rain, the showers should be welcomed to a county that lags behind in average rainfall since the first of the year.

While January is normally the wettest month, with a rainfall of 2.11 inches, the rain total at Lindbergh Field since Jan. 1 is 0.17 of an inch. It fell during the three days starting Jan. 6.

If it does rain over the weekend, forecasters said the showers will not be heavy. Humidity, which was 40% downtown, and 35% to 48% inland Thursday, will rise closer to 65% along the coast and up to 60% inland.

High temperatures through Sunday are expected to be about 59 degrees at the shore, and in the mid to upper 60s along the coastal strip and inland valleys.

Nighttime lows along the coast should be 42 to 50 tonight and slightly warmer Saturday.

Inland lows ranging from 36 to 46 degrees tonight may rise to the 50s Saturday.

Mountain highs in the 40s will drop to the 20s and 30s through the weekend, and daytime desert temperatures around 70 degrees will drop to the 36- to 48-degree range at night.