Strong winds will buffet the Antelope Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains today amid unusually low temperatures — 10 to 15 degrees below normal — and light rain throughout the Southland, forecasters said.
The Antelope Valley and the mountains will be swept by west-to-southwest winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour, gusting to as much as 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service, which placed both areas under a wind advisory scheduled to remain in effect until 9 p.m.
The strongest winds are expected along the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway between Acton and Palmdale, with wind expected to produce 50-mph gusts, according to an NWS statement.
The Antelope Valley Freeway and Pearblossom (138) Highway will be hit by crosswinds as well as blowing dust and sand, which could impede visibility, it said.
Light rain was reported in much of the region overnight and showers are expected this morning, but the precipitation likely will add up to only trace amounts, said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson, attributing it to a deep marine layer resulting from a low-pressure system over Central California.
As of early this morning, the greatest impact expected from the rain is slick roads, possibly including during the morning commute.
Also expected today are abnormally low temperatures, also as a result of the low-pressure system and marine layer, according to Thompson. In downtown L.A., for example, the high is forecast to be 72 degrees Fahrenheit, down 12 degrees from the normal, which is 84, Thompson said. Burbank is expected to hit a high of 70, down from 87, which is what would be normal for this time of the year.
The National Weather Service forecast partly cloudy skies in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys but mostly cloudy skies in the rest of the county, and highs of 64 on Mount Wilson; 69 at LAX; 70 in Saugus, Burbank and San Gabriel; 71 in Long Beach, Palmdale and Lancaster; 72 in downtown L.A. and Avalon; and 73 in Woodland Hills.
Partly Cloudy skies were forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 69 in San Clemente; 71 in Newport Beach, Fullerton and Mission Viejo; 72 in Laguna Beach and Anaheim; and 73 in Irvine and Yorba Linda.
Temperatures are forecast to rise Wednesday. Downtown L.A. should be 5 degrees warmer at 77, and Woodland Hills 10 degrees higher at 83. Temperatures will then continue to rise. By Sunday, a high of 85 is expected in downtown L.A., 100 in Woodland Hills and 89 in Yorba Linda.
