As Southern California braces for seasonal swings, the National Weather Service San Diego reports a cooling trend throughout the region. Coastal temperatures, which have been comfortably high, are expected to remain slightly above average this Friday, ranging from 64 to 72 degrees. Areas further inland, including the western valleys and inland Orange County, will see highs between 71 to 76 degrees.
The NWS San Diego further anticipates a return to near-normal temperatures for coastal spots by Sunday, with a 5 to 15-degree uptick above the norm for inland areas. And as residents eye the holiday forecast, they're teasing the potential of light showers come Christmas Eve, "mainly along and west of the mountains Tuesday afternoon and night."
The detailed weather breakdown extends to dense fog advisories along the coast, making commutes slower than a snail on a sidewalk. The Area Forecast Discussion notes pea soup conditions with visibility slashed to a paltry 1/16th of a mile at the San Diego Airport early this morning. While the fog should lift by mid to late morning, a light offshore flow is expected to keep the marine layer thin, with a slight increase in onshore flow nudging temperatures down a tad.
Looking ahead to Christmas, NWS San Diego conjures an image of breezy, though not frightful, conditions for Santa's sleigh ride over the Southern California skies. While the coastal slopes might sip from a tenth of an inch of rain, folks west of the mountains are likely to only dab at a few hundredths. Despite the damp twist on holiday cheer, the forecast calls for "dry and fair weather" returning for Christmas day.
Meanwhile, surf's up for beachgoers as long period west swells take the stage Sunday through Wednesday, propelling waves potentially as high as 12 feet in San Diego County, while Orange County can expect a milder aquatic concert with 4 to 8 feet waves. A High Surf Advisory is in effect, signaling strong rip currents and challenging swimming conditions, while minor coastal flooding also remains a possibility, despite low tides, due to the robust surf.
In sum, SoCal residents will experience a merry mix of weather patterns as they head into the last week of the year, with cooler air granting reprieve from the recent warmth and perhaps even gift-wrapping a few light showers just in time for Christmas Eve.
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