Weekend Weather Warrants Shorts and T-Shirts

Southern California’s August began pleasantly enough Thursday and the National Weather Service said there will not be much change through the weekend--except for slightly warmer temperatures as a weak high-pressure system settles in.

As coastal low clouds spread about 10 miles inland before giving way to sunshine late Thursday morning, the downtown Los Angeles high was 84 after an overnight low of 66. The high relative humidity was 73% and the low was 42%.

Today and Saturday are expected to be clear except for patchy low clouds in the early morning hours. High mercury readings in Los Angeles will be 87 to 90 degrees, and the lows will be 64 to 68. Highs in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and San Bernardino valleys will be 88 to 96.

Sunday through Tuesday, the Southland coastal areas will be mostly sunny except for some low clouds and fog along the coast during late nights and early mornings. Highs will be in the mid-70s along the beaches and in the upper 90s to near 100 in the valleys.

Southern California mountain areas also are expected to be a little warmer over the next few days, with highs of 72 to 82. In the deserts, where there will be west-to-southwest winds of 25 m.p.h. late this afternoon, highs will be 72 to 82 in the lower deserts and 92 to 102 in the upper deserts.

Offshore, there should be light variable winds through tonight over the inner waters from Point Conception to San Clemente Island and the Mexican border. Wind waves will be one to two feet.

Surf will be two to three feet at 11-second intervals at Zuma Beach and along Santa Monica Bay today and Saturday; two to four feet every 12 seconds at Newport and Huntington Beaches, and three to four feet every 14 seconds at Mission Beach in San Diego.