Gusty winds and powerful waves ahead

Overnight low temperatures were below freezing for portions of the area Tuesday, with cool and below average daytime conditions as well. Another mostly dry cold front will sweep through the region late Wednesday into early Thursday, bringing some unsettled weather to the region. A few, very light showers are possible, but the main impact will be gusty winds, cool temperatures, and snow on local mountain tops.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Northern Ventura County Mountains and will be in effect from 4pm Wednesday until 12pm Thursday. Travel will be particularly difficult and should be avoided during these conditions because of the snow accumulation and the gusty winds in the forecast. Pretty much the entire region is covered in Wind Alerts, as another significant wind event is on deck for Wednesday and Thursday.

First, a Wind Advisory will be in place until 4pm Wednesday. Wind speeds will be between 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph during this time period. It will then be upgraded to a High Wind Warning and take over, remaining in place until 12pm Thursday afternoon. The northerly winds will be at 30-40 mph, with gusts between 60-70 mph and even up to 80 mph for isolated, wind-prone areas. These winds can be potentially damaging, especially during the overnight hours between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

High Surf has been of a concern for several weeks now, with a High Surf Advisory in place from 9pm Tuesday until 9am Friday for Central Coast Beaches and from 9am Wednesday until 3am Friday for Ventura County Beaches. During high tide, powerful waves may cause coastal flooding, which is why a Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued as well. it will be in effect from 3am Wednesday until 12pm Thursday for Central Coast Beaches and from 4am until 12pm Thursday for Ventura County Beaches. Its best to avoid the coastline and immediate nearby areas for the time being to avoid injuries or drowning at this time.