Sprinklers or Not?

Steep thermal gradients will combine with upper-level support early Saturday morning resulting in strong offshore winds.  Delta thetas>10C are predicted between the high desert and LA basin after 1am Saturday coinciding with moderate flow aloft.  Strongest winds could occur early Saturday morning with gusts exceeding 40mph for inland Irvine.

A weak shortwave will pass through late Thursday night advecting cold air over the deserts with some moisture.  Some clouds are possible against the eastern slopes of the San Gabriels early Friday morning, accentuating the thermal gradient across the ridges.  Northeasterly winds with gusts to 40mph are expected beginning Friday morning for western slopes of Santa Ana mountains with high clouds.  Winds could begin for inland Irvine anytime during the morning hours after 9am. Winds could gust to 30mph.  High clouds during the morning clearing by afternoon, highs near 80F.

Offshore winds invaded inland Irvine Tuesday and Wednesday with gusts to 29mph on Tuesday and 24mph on Wednesday.  Winds have decreased as of Thursday morning and are not expected to return until Saturday morning.  A northwest flow will take over Thursday through early Friday with continued warm temperatures.  Onshore breezes are possible Thursday afternoon for coastal areas with stagnant conditions inland.  A warm, dry and windy weekend is ahead.  January will end with dry and mild conditions.  No rain in sight through early February.

Moderate offshore winds are expected anytime after 11am Tuesday morning for inland Irvine.  Gusts to 40mph are possible until late Tuesday night.  Moderate offshore winds are possible Wednesday morning decreasing in intensity Wednesday afternoon.  Dry and warm conditions are expected Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Despite rain on Saturday, we are still well below average for this date. This is why rain today is a veryyyyy good thing. A slow slog of moisture will gradually move inland throughout the day today. We don’t expect a major rain event, but the slow-moving nature of the front will keep the clouds and light rain around through most of the day. I. Expecting up to 1/2″ of rain, more in the mountain communities. Unlike Saturday, this storm is colder and is expected to bring snow to the mountains. Here’s a satellite image showing the storm moving inland over California:

Stay dry! -Mike

A front is expected to move through Saturday morning.  Drizzle could begin as early as 4am with light rain by sunrise.  Light-to-moderate rain is possible through the morning hours with breezy conditions.  Rain should end by the early afternoon for most areas.

Last Sunday’s rain kicked-off a brief wet period after a month without a drop of precipitation throughout California.  Precipitation will work its way down the California coast late this week, bringing the first significant snow to the Sierras this weekend.  Rain should greet southern California on Saturday morning.  Another weaker front is possible Monday morning as well with more snow in the Sierras.  The bad news is that another dry period will follow for the rest of January.

For the first time in more than a month, rain drops hit the ground here in Irvine.  We barely picked up a trace.  Another chance for some sprinkles arrives on Sunday evening (although, most moisture could pass to our south).  Let’s hope for enough to moisten the top mm of soil!  No more than 0.20″ are possible.

An offshore flow will continue through Friday with the strongest winds on Friday morning.  Winds should be limited to below foothills (inland Irvine) and passes.  Saturday, warm and dry.  Sunday, a chance of rain could occur as a weak cutoff low moves through our region.

Our dry streak continues with Santa Ana winds expected Sunday morning for Irvine.  Very dry conditions with wind gusts to 60mph for the Santa Ana mountains (50mph gusts possible for inland Irvine).  Moderate winds will last through at least the early afternoon Sunday.

No significant rain in sight!  There is a possibility of some rain/strange weather on Wednesday, Jan. 11.  However, it won’t be much and there is alot of uncertainty involved.  Stay tuned…