Last-Minute Shoppers Can Expect Warmth and Sunny Skies

OK. So you swore to yourself that this Christmas Eve would not find you schlepping through malls in search of last-minute gifts. What’s worse, Tuesday’s threatening skies had you worried that you might have to also fight your way through drizzles.

Not to worry . . . about the drizzles, at least.

Tuesday’s mischief-maker was a weak cold front meandering its way south of Los Angeles. It lost its punch overnight, leaving fair skies--except for the obligatory patchy night and morning low clouds in south coastal areas.

Fair Southland skies should continue through Christmas Day, bringing with them a slow warming trend for the next several days, the National Weather Service said. Los Angeles’ Civic Center reached a high of 65 on Tuesday, but high temperatures should creep closer to 70 as the weekend approaches, forecasters said.

Just as the days will be warmer, nights will be cooler, with lows dropping into the 40s.

Inner coastal waters from Point Conception to the Mexican border will experience light variable winds, with swells from four to six feet. But surfers will find breaker sets as high as nine feet on well-exposed west-facing beaches today.

A small-craft advisory has been issued for outer coastal waters from Point Conception to San Clemente Island and out 60 miles. Northwest winds from 15 to 25 knots will generate three- to five-foot seas, but west to northwest swells will reach nine to 12 feet early today before subsiding by nightfall.

Southland mountain areas will also be fair through Christmas Day except for low clouds and local dense fog along the north slopes of the Tehachapis. Winds will be from the northeast at 15 to 25 m.p.h. today. Lows will be mostly in the 20s and lower 30s. Today’s highs will range from the mid 40s to the low 50s, with lows in the 20s and low 30s.

Deserts will also be fair, with cooler nights but slightly warmer days. Highs will be in the high 50s, with lows ranging from the mid 20s to mid 30s.