Pleasant, Dry Days Should Prove Change From Last Weekend

Contrasted with last weekend’s vicious storm, forecasts for the next few days are as different as rain and shine.

“The weather will be nothing like what we had last weekend,” said Wilbur Shigehara of the National Weather Service. “The ocean will be back to or near normal for the weekend, so you had better get out and enjoy it. This will be a nice weekend for all outdoor activity.” Sunday’s high is expected to reach the low 70s.

The good weather is caused by a high pressure system that is protecting Southern California from storm fronts, he said. Meanwhile, the high tide and surf that buffeted the coast earlier this week have died.

“The oceans have become very quiet,” Shigehara said. “The surf will be around three feet for the weekend. Also, tides are beginning to fall rapidly and will be six feet high (today), by Saturday five feet, and four feet on Sunday.”

The high pressure system will also bring hot, dry Santa Ana winds and chilly nights, which has prompted the weather service to issue strong wind and frost advisory warnings.

The winds will range between 25 to 40 m.p.h. in the mountains and deserts, and 15 to 25 m.p.h. in some of the inland valleys.

“It might be cold enough to cause some damage to the crops,” Shigehara said. “The growers have been using wind machines to keep the crops warm, but it will be nothing like the freezing temperatures that they experienced last December and January.”

The cooling trend beginning on late Sunday night will continue into next week, he added. “Gradually there will be a change in the weather pattern, and early next week could produce fog, begining on Sunday. By late Wednesday or Thursday, a weather front could bring rain.”

Highs todayY along the coast will range between 60 and 65 degrees; lows today and over the weekend will dip to the low 40s.

Inland highs will range between 60 and 67, with lows in the upper 40s.

Temperatures in the mountains will range between 42 to 47, and are expected to warm a few degrees each day. The lows will dip to the mid 20’s.