The Southland’s long period of record-breaking March heat will ease this week with more seasonal weather for early spring, forecasters said.
“To paraphrase the Little River Band, are you ready for a `cool change’ next week (Tue-Thu)? A weak low pressure system will bring cooler temperatures to #SoCal along with light rain,” the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office said Friday, predicting highs around seasonal norms and the possibility of light rainfall, with amounts under 0.25 inches.
Southern California experienced an unusually hot and dry March, with daily temperature records set on many days. Saturday’s high of 87 in Palmdale and 86 in Lancaster both broke records set in 2015, the NWS said.
Sunday’s high of 87 degrees in downtown Los Angeles is expected to drop to 77 on Monday and 74 on Tuesday and Wednesday, with light rain possible Tuesday night, forecasters said. Thursday was on track to be even cooler, with a high of 72.
Coastal areas were expected to drop into the upper 60s.
Overnight lows are also expected to decrease slightly, hovering in the mid-50s in most areas and dropping into the upper 40s in the mountains and some valley areas.
“If we do end up seeing rain, confidence is high that amounts will be light with minimal impacts,” the NWS said Sunday. “The weather pattern will likely bring additional high clouds to the area Thursday, and gusty onshore westerly winds may reach near advisory levels at the beaches and across some inland mountains/deserts during the afternoon and evening.”
Next weekend could see another warming trend, with some highs creeping back into the low 80s.