High winds, cooler temperatures expected across Southern California
Dark clouds loom over downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning.
Southern Californians are in for a gusty day Monday, with forecasters predicting strong winds and low visibility.
A low-pressure system approaching from the north is expected to bring cooler temperatures and high winds for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. Maximum temperatures on Monday are likely to be 8 to 12 degrees below normal.
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Dave Bruno, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said the Antelope Valley could get damaging wind gusts over 60 mph on Monday. Winds will be strongest in the afternoon and evening, he said, and could make driving difficult.
“The wind is the big story today,” Bruno said. “It’s going to be a very windy day, not just a normal windy day.”
Strong northwesterly winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph are forecast along the Central Coast and the mountains in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Strong gusts are expected across most of Catalina Island as well.
Forecasters also warned of choppy seas and gale-force winds offshore.
The San Gabriel Valley foothills have a small chance of light rain during the morning commute, Bruno said. Rainfall, if any, will be less than a tenth of an inch except for the eastern foothills, where a quarter-inch is possible over the next 24 hours, forecasters said.
In Orange County, there was light rainfall Monday morning. Though this week will be mostly dry, there could be periods of precipitation, especially in mountainous areas of Orange and San Diego counties, through Wednesday, said Brett Albright, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
“This is not a significant event,” he said. “Every once in a while, you’ll get a little spit of rain.”
Snow levels of 7,500 feet in Orange and San Diego county mountains on Monday are expected to lower to 5,000 feet Tuesday, with a few inches of snow possible, forecasters said.
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