Southern California will welcome a long-awaited cooldown this week as temperatures are expected to return to normal ranges after weeks of scorching heat.
According to the National Weather Service, most areas in Southern California will gradually experience a decrease in temperatures this week. Starting on Monday, temperatures are forecasted to drop by about 1-3 degrees Fahrenheit. By Tuesday and Wednesday, cooler weather is expected due to the influence of onshore flow. However, with higher humidity levels and a possibility of thunderstorms in mountain and desert areas, most communities may not feel significantly cooler until Wednesday.
Weather forecasts indicate that Thursday and Friday are expected to be the coolest days of the week: highs in the San Fernando Valley and the Inland Empire will be in the 80s, around 80 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, coastal areas below 75 degrees, close to 90 degrees in San Bernardino County, and in the seventies to eighties in the inland areas of Orange County.
The National Weather Service office in San Diego stated that with deeper moisture levels on Tuesday, the high-altitude desert areas in San Bernardino County, including Barstow and Victorville, may experience monsoonal thunderstorms. However, the fire risk remains low.
“Air humidity seems to be high enough, so we are not particularly concerned about dry lightning causing fires,” said meteorologist Miguel Miller. “And wherever lightning strikes, it’s likely to rain locally as well.”
From Monday evening to Wednesday night, beaches in counties including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara may face a slight risk of coastal flooding. During high tide periods, low-lying coastal areas such as parking lots, beaches, and sidewalks could experience seawater inundation, but significant damage is not expected.
Orange County has issued a coastal flood advisory effective from 6 pm on Monday to 11 pm on Wednesday. Metrolink Orange County Line segments will be temporarily suspended from Monday to Friday. Orange County and Long Beach have taken precautions to protect coastal residences.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that although temperatures in the southern region are rising, temperatures in California and some western areas are expected to remain normal until August 19th.
Despite the dissipating hot weather in Southern California, meteorologists urge residents to be cautious about heat-related issues this week, stay hydrated, take breaks when working or engaging in outdoor activities, and plan ahead for cool shelters.