Rain Coming, Valentine's Tips, Election Looming

Today is Feb. 14. Happy Valentine's Day. It is the 45th day of the year. We are under a waxing gibbous moon. Sunset will occur at 5:38 p.m. Here are five things to know:

1. The National Weather Service forecast for today calls for mostly sunny skies this afternoon with a high near 61 degrees with incresaing clouds tonight and an overnight low around 47 degrees. Forecasters said a siginficant change in our weather pattern is taking place with a series of Pacific storm systems moving through southwestern California starting today and continuing through Saturday. There's a 30 percent chance of showers after 10 a.m. Tuesday and less than a quarter of an inch of rain is expected in the area. A more significant storm system is expected in the area Wednesday afternoon with gusty winds and up to an inch of rain.

2. Playa del Rey resident Phil Jackson and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (38-17) are still on the road and they face the Charlotte Bobcats (23-31) at Time Warner Cable Arena. Tipoff is at 4 p.m. The Lakers are 4-1 so far on their seven-game Grammy road trip, their annual lengthy road trip due to the Grammys music awards show at the Staples Center.

3. It's Valentine's Day. Why not do something romantic out on the water? Our boating columnist, Paul M.J. Suchecki, has some tips right here.

4. Don't forget to vote Tuesday in the special election for the vacant seat in the state Senate's 28th District, which includes Marina del Rey.

5. Did you know you can follow Marina del Rey Patch, which also covers Del Rey and Playa del Rey, on Facebook and Twitter?