Major Shift In SoCal Weather Brings Rain, Sharp Drop In Temperatures

LOS ANGELES — The beautiful spring weather that graced much of SoCal this week vanished without a trace Thursday thanks to a deep marine layer that sent temperatures tumbling and brought rain to the Southland.

The National Weather Service expected Thursday would be the coldest of the week with a big dropoff in inland temperatures and afternoon highs running 15 to 20 degrees cooler in the valleys.

While forecasters do not expect much in the way of rain with this low-pressure system, a few light showers will be possible into early Friday.

"Rainfall has mostly been a few hundredths of an inch to around one-tenth inch with local amounts to around one-quarter inch," forecasters said Thursday morning. "A deep marine layer will continue for tonight into Friday morning."

Wind gusts Thursday should peak in the teens for most in SoCal, with a few exceptions.

"Strong gusty winds continue along the desert slopes of the mountains into the deserts...and in the northern Coachella Valley below the San Gorgonio Pass to around 50 mph with isolated gusts to 60 mph," NWS San Diego said Thursday. "The strongest winds will be through this morning."

Forecasters noted diminishing gusts across southern Santa Barbara County, the I-5 Corridor and Antelope Valley but said there was a chance an advisory would be needed in the afternoon for Central Coast beaches, the southwestern Santa Barbara County coast and western Santa Ynez mountains.

The cooling trend will be short-lived. While temperatures will still run a few degrees below average Friday, the last day of the workweek kicks off a warming period that should last through the weekend. Sunday looks to be the warmest in the stretch with afternoon highs trending warmer than average, hitting the high 60s around San Diego and mid-70s around Los Angeles.

Enjoy it while it lasts. The National Weather Service expects onshore flow to strengthen early next week, cooling things off once again.