LOS ANGELES, CA — A rainy Saturday was chased away by high winds Sunday as Los Angeles County saw powerful gusts both inland and along the coast that caused hundreds to lose power. Wind advisories were in effect for much of the region until 9 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service announced.
The Los Angeles County coast, Santa Monica Mountains, Catalina, Santa Barbara Islands, Ventura County and Santa Clarita Valley were expected to experience west winds of 15-30 mph, with gusts up to 35 to 45 mph Sunday.
Angelenos were cautioned to pay extra attention while driving or walking around as gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and make driving difficult.
More cool weather persisted across the Southland Sunday, one day after Los Angeles saw its record streak of warm temperatures come to an end.
“With a high temp of only 62 degrees today, the streak of days with a high temp of 70 or higher at Downtown Los Angeles has officially ended at 200 days. This breaks the old record from 1885 by 10 days!” the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office tweeted late Saturday. “Pretty incredible! Time to enjoy temps in the 60s again!”
Highs on Sunday stayed in the upper 50s and mid-60s in the greater Los Angeles area, with a chance of showers in the afternoon. Winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph were expected as well.
The NWS said the cold air mass will remain through Tuesday, and overnight temperatures would approach the freezing mark inland from the coast the next several nights.
Lows in the 20s and low 30s were forecast for the Antelope Valley, and temperatures were expected to dip into the 30s in the mountains and the San Fernando Valley as well.
A winter weather advisory remained in effect until 10 p.m. for the mountains, where snow and gusty winds were expected. Between 2 and 3 inches of snow were expected above 5,000 feet, and 1 to 2 inches between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, including the Grapevine portion of Interstate 5.
Travelers headed for the Grapevine were advised to prepare for significant delays.
The forecast also called for west to northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph in those areas.
Mariners and beachgoers along Southern California’s coast were also advised take caution.
A high surf advisory remained in effect until 4 p.m. Sunday, the NWS said.
The surf was projected to reach 3 to 6 feet in height, and a high risk of rip currents will exist, according to the NWS. Similar conditions will prevail Saturday, although the surf is expected to reach a height of 5 to 8 feet at west-facing beaches.
“Strong winds and dangerous seas will bring dangerous conditions for mariners across the coastal waters,” officials from NWS said Sunday.
On Saturday, several areas at higher elevations in Los Angeles County, such as Mount Baldy and San Antonia Sierra, received over a half inch of rain.
Downtown Los Angeles received 0.11 inches of rain Saturday.
“The streak of days with no measurable precipitation at Downtown Los Angeles has come to an end at 172 days,” The NWS tweeted Saturday. “This is a tie for the 7th longest streak in recorded history. It was 47 days shy of the top spot in 1997.”
Wind advisories in effect for much of SW Calif thru this evening as widespread gusty W-NW winds impact the region. Strong winds and dangerous seas will bring dangerous conditions for mariners across the coastal waters. #LAWeather #LAwind #cawx #Socal pic.twitter.com/ntEVgiiVaW
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) November 8, 2020
The City News Service contributed to this report.
