Light Rain Possible as Storm Tarries off Coast

There could be some light rain or drizzles in the Southland by late in the weekend, said forecasters Thursday, with an eye on Hurricane Ramon as it moved up from about 400 miles southwest of Baja California.

“There will definitely be more cloudiness,” said meteorologist Dan Bowman of WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times. “And there is a chance of some rain by Sunday--not a big chance, but a chance.”

Through Saturday at least, according to the National Weather Service, Southern California should have slightly warmer and somewhat hazy fair weather.

Bowman said the moisture will be pulled in from Ramon by an upper-level low-pressure system drifting slowly eastward from its parking spot off the coast.

In Orange County, WeatherData predicted temperatures in Santa Ana would reach a high of 71 today and a low of 64, with temperatures in the same range Saturday.

On Thursday the high in Santa Ana was 78 and the low was 63.

The high temperature in downtown Los Angeles today and Saturday is expected to be about 80 degrees.

A storm off New Zealand has already been sending a swell against Southern California beaches for the last few days and is expected to keep doing so for a few more days, the weather service said. Enhancing that wave activity beginning late today will be another swell resulting from Ramon.

The combined effect, said the forecasters, will be breakers averaging about five feet on south-facing beaches, with some sets to eight feet.

Swimming or surfing in such waves may be dangerous for anyone except expert swimmers, the weather service warned. It also cautioned fishermen or sightseers on breakwaters or other coastal sites to watch out for occasional bigger-than-average waves “which can suddenly sweep across previously dry areas.”