It Could Get to 90 Degrees in the Valley Today

Strong, gusty Santa Ana winds will sweep the Southland today, ushering in two days of above-normal temperatures, including an expected high of 90 in the San Fernando Valley.

This week's offshore winds -- resulting from high pressure over the Great Basin combined with colder air -- are developing "very late in the season" and will prove "unusually strong," said National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Bruno.

He said high winds create an elevated fire risk but added that the rains in March had moistened what otherwise would have been bone-dry vegetation.

The strongest winds today are expected on and around the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and the Interstate 5 corridor in the San Gabriel Mountains, forecasters said, warning motorists -- especially in high-profile vehicles -- to beware of gusty crosswinds.

Northeast winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour are expected in both the San Gabriels and the Santa Monica Mountains, with gusts of between 40 and 50 mph, NWS forecasters said. In the valleys, winds will blow at between 15 and 25 mph and gust at 40 mph, they said.

A wind advisory that went into effect at 2 a.m. today will be in force until 2 p.m. in mountain and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. In Orange County, the wind advisory will be in force near the foothills from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m.     Today's highs are expected to be around 10 degrees higher than usual in downtown Los Angeles and around 15 degrees above normal in the San Fernando Valley, Bruno said, adding that a cooling trend is expected starting Wednesday.

The NWS forecast highs today of 69 in San Clemente; 73 on Mount Wilson; 74 in Avalon and Newport Beach; 75 in Laguna Beach; 78 in Palmdale; 79 in Lancaster and at LAX; 84 in Long Beach and downtown L.A.; 85 in Irvine; 87 in Saugus, San Gabriel, Burbank, Fullerton, Mission Viejo and Anaheim; 88 in Yorba Linda and Pasadena; and 90 in Woodland Hills.

--City News Service