Clouds, Rain Possible by Midweek; Highs to 70s

Rain is expected Tuesday as a fast-moving low pressure system out of the Gulf of Alaska makes its way down the West Coast, forecasters said.

“At this point in time, it appears as though there is enough energy behind it to push the system down into the Los Angeles area,” said Bill Hoffer, meteorological technician with the National Weather Service.

Jeff House, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecast information to The Times, is predicting a 40% chance of rain Tuesday. Otherwise, mostly cloudy skies and afternoon temperatures ranging from the upper 60s to the low 70s are expected.

If the system passes through Southern California, it could bring a chance of isolated showers Wednesday morning, House said. Wednesday’s highs are expected to be in the upper 60s to the low 70s, with partly cloudy skies and winds up to 20 mph, he said.

Today, the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with patchy morning fog in the Valley. The warmest areas in the Valley are expected to be Chatsworth and Van Nuys, which may reach afternoon highs of 78. Slightly cooler temperatures are predicted for Woodland Hills and Burbank.

The ultraviolet index for today at noon, when the sun’s rays are most direct, is 3, a low level of exposure, Hoffer said. He added that individuals with fair skin should be safe from sunburn for up to 20 minutes without protection.

Mostly clear skies and temperatures in the low to upper 70s are forecast for Thursday as a high pressure system begins to build over Southern California, House said. However, the system could begin to break down as early as Friday, giving way to partly cloudy skies and slightly lower temperatures.

Morning lows through Friday are expected to range between the mid-40s and the low 50s, House said.