A break between systems Tuesday, but all eyes on heavy rain and strong winds midweek
Temperatures Tuesday are warming around 4 or 5 degrees, but staying below normal. Most highs will be in the mid 50s to low 60s.
With a weak ridge of high pressure, skies will clear nicely and it will be a drier day. However, dry conditions will be short-lived.
An atmospheric river will move down the coast with strong south to southeasterly flow. Rain showers will start Wednesday morning, and the main front will enter San Luis Obispo County by the evening.
There will be 3 to 6 hours of heavy rainfall with peak rain rates up to 1 inch per hour. The main front will exit LA County around Thursday afternoon.
We are expecting 1.5 to 3 inches of rain for coastal areas, but up to 6 inches locally in mountain areas. The Santa Ynez Range is especially prone to these higher numbers for this system.
Southerly winds will be very gusty, and potentially damaging. There is a high wind watch in effect for the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County mountains from 10:00 am Wednesday to 4:00 am Thursday. There is also a watch in effect for the Ventura County mountains from 3:00 pm Wednesday to 3:00 am Thursday. Gusts will be 60 to 65 mph.
There is a high surf advisory on the Central Coast until 4:00 am Thursday, and a beach hazards statement on the South and Ventura coasts from 4:00 am Thursday to 3:00 am Saturday. Breaking waves will be 8 to 12 feet.
Friday will be drier once again with a pop-up ridge of high pressure. Temperatures may warm a tad. A slight chance picks up again Saturday through Monday with a series of small disturbances.
