Beach Hazards Statement For Laguna Beach Throughout Rainy Weekend

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Moderate temperatures across Orange County would give way to a wet and chilly weekend, the National Weather Service predicts. Rain, snow, strong gusty winds, and dangerous driving conditions would be the story for most of the weekend through Sunday, forecast models showed.

A beach hazards statement is in effect for Orange County beaches, starting at 8 Friday morning in Orange County, and will not expire until 2 a.m. Monday. Forecasts called for waves in Orange County to reach 4- 6 feet, with local sets getting upwards of 7 feet.

The highest surf is expected Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening, excellent conditions for surfers, dangerous conditions for swimmers.

"Elevated surf and strong rip currents will create hazardous swimming conditions," warned the NWS.

Off the coast, a gale watch will be in effect from Friday afternoon to late Friday evening amid winds of 20 to 35 knots, gusts of 40 and 45 knots, and combined seas of 7-10 feet when wind strength is at its most severe, forecasters said.

"Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions," urged an NWS statement. "Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and or secure the vessel for severe conditions."

Orange County will have a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies Friday, with clouds appearing over some inland cities and Santa Ana Mountain areas, along with highs of 64 degrees on Santiago Peak; 69 in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach; 70 in San Clemente and on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 74 at Fremont Canyon and Fullerton; 75 at Trabuco Canyon, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Mission Viejo; and 76 in Irvine. Saturday's temperatures will be up to 24 degrees lower, amid showers in most communities and snow showers on Santiago Peak in the Santa Anas. Sunny skies will return Monday, and temperatures -- still in the 40s, 50s, and 60s -- would ramp up slowly.

Forecast models called for one-tenth to a quarter-inch of rain in most of the Southland, according to the NWS. A half-inch of rain and even snow forecast for the mountains.

The NWS Friday morning issued a winter weather advisory that would remain in effect from 9 Friday evening until 10 Sunday night in the San Gabriel Mountains in L.A. and Ventura Counties. It forecast snow accumulation of 3 to 6 inches above 6,000 feet, though it will be 6 to 9 inches in places. A dusting that could produce 1-inch accumulation is possible between 4,000 to 5,000 feet, including the Grapevine portion of Interstate 5, amid wind gusts of 40-45 miles per hour, said the NWS.

Roadways that may be affected by accumulating snow and gusty winds include Highway 33 in Ventura County and Interstate 5 and Angeles Crest Highway in L.A. County, the NWS warned.
A wind advisory will be in force from 9 Friday morning until 9 Friday evening in the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Mountains, with southwest-to-west winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour expected in both, along with gusts of up to 45 mph.

"Gusty winds and reduced visibility from blowing dust will make driving difficult," according to the NWS.

Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, according to the NWS. Tree limbs may down, and power outages may result. Areas of blowing dust can suddenly and dangerously reduce visibilities to near zero."

Highways 14 and 138 could be affected around the Antelope Valley while accumulating snow and gusty winds could impact Highway 33 in Ventura County and Interstate 5 and Angeles Crest Highway in L.A. County, the NWS warned.

Forecasters attributed the expected inclement weather to a low- pressure system out of the Pacific.

Mostly cloudy skies were forecast in L.A. County Friday, along with highs of 66 degrees on Mount Wilson; 71 at LAX; 72 in Long Beach and Avalon; 74 in Downtown L.A. and Burbank; 75 in San Gabriel; 76 in Woodland Hills; 77 in Lancaster; and 78 in Palmdale. On Saturday, highs will fall to the high 50s and low 60s amid rain, with snow expected on Mount Wilson along with highs in the low 40s, followed on Sunday by highs similar to Saturday's, plus showers. Sunny skies will return Monday, and a slow warming trend will get underway.

Along the L.A. County coastline, a high surf advisory will go into effect at 4 p.m., lasting to 4 p.m. Sunday, the NWS said. According to the NWS, the surf will reach 3 to 6 feet in height, and a high risk of rip currents will exist. Similar conditions will prevail Saturday, although forecasts called for surf from 5 to 8 feet at west-facing beaches.

Additionally, a small craft advisory will be in force until 9 p.m. in San Luis Obispo County, serving to warn inexperienced sailors to stay out of the water, especially in small vessels.

For weekend weather pictures of Laguna Beach waves, view @SoLagLocal on Instagram.

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