A low-pressure system will advance into the Southland Thursday evening, dramatically lowering temperatures and bringing a slight chance of rain showers through Friday night.
The rainfall is expected to primarily affect northern mountains, where as much of a quarter-inch could fall at higher elevations, while a tenth of an inch or less is likely in lower elevations, according to the National Weather Service. The best chance of rain will be late Thursday night through Friday night.
Snow levels will also fall Friday night into Saturday morning to about 3,500 to 4,000 feet. Forecasters said 1 to 2 inches of snow could potentially accumulate at higher elevations.
“There is only a 10% chance of a dusting of snow along the Grapevine Pass Friday night into Saturday morning,” according to the NWS.
The most notable effect of the system will be the temperatures, which forecasters said will “plummet” by Friday.
“Friday temperatures will fall to 10 to 12 degrees below normal, with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s,” according to the NWS. “Saturday temperatures will again remain very cold. Overnight lows will be very chilly, with temperatures within a few degrees of freezing likely for the coastal plains and valleys north of Point Conception. Wind sheltered valleys of Ventura and L.A. Counties may also see lows near freezing.”
Winds are expected to pick up across the area by Friday, particularly near the coast.
Milder and warmer weather is expected to return by Sunday into Monday, forecasters said. By Tuesday, another “moderate-to-strong” Santa Ana wind event is anticipated, which could bring the area “unseasonably warm” temperatures.