Clear Skies in View Through Midweek

Southern Californians can see clearly now, the rain is gone.

At least for a little while.

Clear, sunny skies prevailed throughout the “Soggy State” on Friday, giving residents a break from the pounding rainstorms that have created havoc from one end of California to the other. According to Curtis Brack, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., we can look forward to clear weather into the middle of next week. A storm system may bring rain to parts of the state by next weekend, he said.

Temperatures reached the mid-60s Friday in most of the Southland and are expected to move into the mid-70s in the next few days. Periods of Santa Ana winds beginning today are expected to cause a warming trend into next week, with clear skies and little if any precipitation, Brack said.

One downside for some residents anxious to celebrate the return of dry weather Friday was the high winds that made it seem colder than the actual temperature would indicate. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory Friday for the Santa Clarita Valley and the northern desert areas, where winds peaked at 52 m.p.h. by midday. In Long Beach, winds reached 30 m.p.h. between 1 and 2 p.m.

Lifeguards reported only a smattering of sun worshipers because of the winds.

“It’s like a sand dune out here,” one lifeguard said.

“The wind has really picked up,” agreed Lt. George Merritt of the Los Angeles County lifeguards. “But it’s still a gorgeous day.”