Chill Winds Not Expected to Last Through Weekend

A high-pressure system over the Pacific Northwest will bring strong winds to the Southland tonight, with gusts in some areas reaching 50 m.p.h. to 60 m.p.h. and temperatures dropping below 40 degrees.

But forecasters predict that the winds will die down over the weekend, giving way to warmer temperatures and lots of sunshine Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures for the weekend are predicted to reach the low 70s, with overnight lows hovering around 40.

“After the strong winds leave the area . . . it looks like pretty good weather for the rest of the weekend,” said Dan Bowman, a meteorologist at WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times.

The high-pressure system also means that the Southland will not soon see a repeat of storm conditions that ravaged a 250-mile stretch of the coast from Santa Barbara south to the Mexican city of Ensenada and caused an estimated $68 million in property damage.

The high temperature at the Civic Center Thursday was 65. The low was 38. The maximum humidity was 65% and the minimum was 28%. The rainfall total for the season is 6.83 inches, slightly below the seasonal average of 6.84 inches.

Despite today’s strong winds, the daytime temperatures should be in the mid-60s. The cold, windy conditions likely will cause the city to keep open three recreational centers to house the homeless through tonight.