On the eve of an increase in temperatures, high surf will strike the Southland’s coastline today, threatening swimmers and surfers, and high winds will buffet some areas of the region, the National Weather Service said.
Additionally, light rain was reported this morning in a number of communities, including Long Beach, Van Nuys, Santa Ana and Pomona.
Surf of between 5 and 8 feet is expected as a result of an increasing northwest swell, according to an NWS statement.
“There is an increased risk for ocean drowning,” it said. “Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Sneaker waves can suddenly wash people off of beaches and rock jetties.”
NWS forecasters urged swimmers caught in rip currents to swim parallel to shore until able to break free.
A High surf advisory will be in force until 5 p.m. in Los Angeles County, including Santa Catalina island.
A small craft advisory will be in effect until 11 a.m. Wednesday in some areas off the coast because of rough seas.
The NWS also forecast winds of between 25 and 35 miles per hour in the Antelope Valley and the San Gabriel mountains later today, gusting at up to 55 miles per hour. Blowing sand and dust could make it hard to drive, especially on the Antelope Valley Freeway and state Route 138, forecasters said. A wind advisory will be in effect in the Antelope Valley from noon today until 3 o’clock tomorrow morning. In the San Gabriels, it will be in effect from 6 tonight until 9 tomorrow morning.
The NWS forecast mostly cloudy skies today in L.A. County, partly cloudy skies in Orange County, and highs of 62 on Mount Wilson; 65 in Palmdale, Lancaster, Avalon, Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 66 at LAX and in Newport Beach; 68 in Long Beach, Saugus, Irvine, Mission Viejo and Anaheim; 69 in Fullerton, Pasadena, San Gabriel and Burbank; 70 in downtown L.A.; 71 in Yorba Linda; and 72 in Woodland Hills.
Temperatures will increase Tuesday, by up to 10 degrees in some communities, and several days of sunny skies are in the forecast.
