Warmer Days Point to a Nice Weekend

Sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures were forecast for Orange County today and throughout the weekend, marred only by coastal low clouds and fog tonight and early Saturday, forecasters said Thursday.

Highs both days will probably range from the mid-60s to mid-70s, up from overnight lows in the low to mid-50s, according to meteorologist Pat Cooper of WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. However, Cooper noted, a low-pressure system developing over the deserts should increase the onshore wind currents, making Saturday a little cooler at the beaches.

Thursday’s highs in Orange County ranged from 72 degrees in Fullerton to 60 degrees in Newport Beach, according to the National Weather Service. Highs elsewhere were 71 degrees in El Toro, 70 in Santa Ana and 69 degrees in San Juan Capistrano. The overnight low was 42 degrees in San Juan Capistrano. Relative humidity ranged from 86% to 40% in Santa Ana.

West to southwesterly winds of up to 15 m.p.h. were forecast for Saturday afternoon in Orange County. And Southern California mountains and deserts should get winds up to 25 m.p.h. afternoons and evenings for the next day or so.

Surf is expected to be 2 to 3 feet from Santa Barbara to San Diego today and Saturday.

With no storms on the horizon and the normal rainy period slipping away, the total rainfall for the season is a skimpy 8.44 inches in Santa Ana, down from last season’s 10.03 inches. Normal to date is 12.57 inches.