Dig Out the Umbrella--Forecaster Sees Chance of Southland Showers

Rain?

WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times, predicts that Southern Californians may see--or feel--their first precipitation of the season in the form of scattered showers and thunderstorms, starting late today and lasting through Saturday.

The proximate cause is the weakening tropical storm Octave, which was about 500 miles south of San Diego on Thursday and moving northwest. The weather front is expected to show up early today, first as high clouds and then thickening during the day.

“We expect by late afternoon, or early evening, we could see some showers developing over Southern California, especially over the mountains,” WeatherData meteorologist Rick Dittmann said. “We anticipate precipitation in the Los Angeles Basin.”

If measurable rain falls at the Los Angeles Civic Center, the National Weather Service said, it will be the first precipitation of the season, which began July 1.

Along with showers, Southland residents can expect somewhat cooler temperatures.

But according to Dittmann, it may not be noticeable because of muggy weather caused by higher humidity. Highs near 90 are predicted for inland valleys.

The Civic Center registered a high of 96 degrees Thursday, three degrees lower than the record high for the date set in 1896, according to the National Weather Service.

San Diego recorded a high of 90 degrees.

The warm weather was aggravated by smog alerts declared by the South Coast Air Quality Management during the day in southeast Los Angeles, central and northern Orange County and southern San Gabriel Valley.