Downtown Los Angeles woke up to a gray, muggy start on Thursday, April 9, with clouds hanging low, temperatures near 58°F and a light northwest breeze. By this afternoon, skies are expected to brighten to partly sunny and bump inland highs up to around 76°F. The break will not last long, though, as a series of late-season storms starts lining up Friday night, with the wettest stretch looking most likely from Saturday night into Sunday.
Afternoon and Tonight
Through this afternoon, look for partly sunny skies with inland temperatures topping out near 76°F and cooler readings along the coast. South winds should stay on the lighter side at about 0–10 mph. A late-day onshore push could deepen the marine layer at the beaches and send stronger seabreezes funneling into some valley areas. By Thursday night, clouds are set to increase again, and temperatures should slide back to a low near 57°F.
Friday Into The Weekend
On Friday, April 10, a weak front moves in and puts the focus on the Central Coast and northern Santa Barbara County, which get the best shot at light showers. Much of Los Angeles County may stay dry through most of the daytime hours. Rain chances go up Friday night into Saturday morning, currently pegged around 40–50%, before a colder, more energetic storm system arrives Saturday night.
That stronger system carries a high probability of widespread overnight rain, with embedded thunderstorms, heavier downpours and advisory-level southerly winds across the mountains. Foothills and coastal slopes could pick up localized inch-plus rainfall totals, and snow levels may dip toward 5,500–6,000 feet. These timing and impact details are drawn from the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard.
Marine, Mountain and Travel Impacts
Small craft advisories are in place for portions of the coastal waters, and conditions will turn rough at times. Small-boat operators are urged to steer clear of exposed areas while this unsettled pattern sticks around. Any stronger showers or thunderstorms could pack heavy downpours, lightning, small hail and erratic gusty winds, all of which can make time on the water hazardous.
On land, drivers should be ready for slower Friday-night commutes, along with localized street flooding in low-lying and foothill neighborhoods when heavier bursts of rain move through.
What You Should Do
If you have evening plans Friday or Saturday night, keep rain gear handy and build in some extra travel time. Boaters should avoid exposed waters, and anyone heading into the mountains should check road conditions above 6,000 feet. Keep an eye on National Weather Service updates through the weekend for any shifts in storm timing or additional advisories.
