Dry, Warmer Weekend Predicted

The Arctic storm that left shining snowcaps on the mountains and hailstone snowmen on the beaches of Southern California finally blew itself away to the east Thursday, and forecasters said the weekend should be a time of rising temperatures, declining winds . . . and lots of sun.

“The days should be clear, and you can expect the air to be warmer and drier,” said Cary Schudy, meteorologist and spokesman for Earth Environment Science, a private forecasting firm based in San Francisco.

Highs in the Los Angeles area, he said, should be in the 60s today, near 70 Saturday and in the low 70s Sunday.

He explained that the upper-level low pressure system that brought so much moisture and cold air into the Southland during the week is moving out now, and Pacific high pressure is building in the area. This, he said, should result in “a much drier air mass, with fewer clouds and no rain probable in the next few days.”

High 64 in Santa Ana

But there will be wind, he said. Forecasters said east-to-northeast breezes could rise to 25 m.p.h. today.

The high temperature in downtown Santa Ana on Thursday was 64 degrees, with an overnight low of 38, the Fire Department reported. In Newport Beach, the high Thursday was 61 following an overnight low of 40.

It was a bit colder in north Orange County, where the overnight low dipped to 37 degrees and Thursday’s high was 59.

Moderate surf was expected at the beaches today, with temperatures in the mid-60s and water temperature a few degrees cooler, while mountain resorts rejoiced in predictions of overnight temperatues in the teens, rising to only 39 degrees during the afternoon before plunging back below the freezing mark, keeping the snow firm and powdery on the slopes.

Freezing overnight temperatures were also forecast for the high desert, with highs in the mid-50s and northeast winds rising to 25 m.p.h. in the afternoon. Low deserts were expecting overnight lows to the lower 30s, with afternoons in the upper 60s and wind gusting to 30 m.p.h. in some places.

Times staff writer Nancy Wride contributed to this story.