Southern California will transition from peak warmth Wednesday to a cooling trend starting Thursday, with two rounds of rain expected over the weekend into early next week.
Temperatures were about 5 to 10 degrees above average Wednesday, with gradual cooling expected into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
“Starting tomorrow, a cooling trend is expected with increasing onshore flow ahead of a low-pressure system for the weekend,” the weather agency said. “Light to moderate precipitation will fall across most of Southern California in two rounds.”
Additionally, elevated westerly winds are expected in the mountains and deserts from Thursday through the weekend.
High clouds are expected to move into the region early Thursday, forecasters said. Temperatures will begin to cool, with highs falling a few degrees Thursday and Friday.
Further cooling is expected over the weekend, along with periods of widespread rain and continued elevated west to southwest winds in the mountains and deserts.
The precipitation is expected in two waves, with the first arriving late Friday into early Saturday. Forecasters said that system has weakened and shifted north, with most coastal areas expected to receive less than a quarter-inch of rain and little to no accumulation in the deserts.
A second, stronger and colder system is expected Sunday, with showers lingering into early Monday, according to the NWS.
Rainfall is generally expected to be light to moderate, though probabilities for at least a half-inch range from 20% to 40% in coastal and valley areas and 40% to 70% in the mountains, forecasters said.
Dry and seasonable conditions are expected to return from Tuesday through the middle of next week.