Results tagged “weather”

The National Weather Service this afternoon issued a fire weather watch for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties between Sunday morning and Monday evening. That's because of the potential of high winds and very low humidities, they say.

Metro is using their new blog the right way--with timely updates. From today: "The Gold Line is currently shut down between Highland Park and Southwest Museum stations. At about 1:15 p.m. an umbrella from a neighboring residence blew onto city power lines above train tracks, creating a potentially dangrous situation for the trains beneath. DWP, Fire Department and Metro officials are on the scene. Metro riders are advised to use either Metro bus lines 81 or 83 or to take the Gold Line to either Highland Park or Southwest Museum station and board buses that are shuttling passengers between the two stations. We’ll be posting updates as they occur." UPDATE: Trains are running on a single track, expect 10-15 min delays this afternoon, says the LA Times.

Northridge: 1, 476There have been multiple reports of damage to buildings and due to fallen trees all over the city. At about 7 last night a tree fell onto the Pilgrim Community Church in South Los Angeles and as a result the "building has been red-tagged," reports abc7, noting that a tree fell onto a parked car at Burbank Boulevard and Topanga Canyon as well, and another in Long Beach. "In Pacoima, a camper broke the fall of a tree, and a Jack in the Box sign flew off at Sherman Way and Coldwater Canyon in North Hollywood."

The wind yesterday afternoon came in strong, running amok through Southland streets, making a mess of palm fronds and zapping the power our for tens of thousands.

The National Weather Service says those hot temperatures from yesterday are just so... yesterday. A high wind warning will go into effect at 11 a.m., lasting 24-hours and bringing in nippier temperatures through tomorrow before they pick up again Thursday. In some areas of L.A. County, gusts of wind today could get up to 70 miles per hour. Temperatures in the immediate Los Angeles area today are expected to see highs in the high 60s to mid 70s. So wrap up in a scarf and don't forget your sandals.

Mother Nature is taunting us as she does best. After an earlier-than-expected season opening for Mammoth Mountain on Friday, officials had to close the popular skiing spot down as warmer temperatures made a return. "After a big storm earlier this week and great skiing and riding on Friday, record breaking warm temperatures rolled in, wreaking havoc on our snow in the process," a statement from the resort read. However, a storm in the near future could bring back the snow and lower temperatures.

For the third night in a row, Conan made fun of Los Angeles and how we apparently all freak out over rain. You know, as in the unusual amount of car crashes and the dramatic STORMWATCH newscasts? Yeah, exactly.

As we have been saying, if you're not heading up to Mammoth to ski, you'll be down here for the expected hot temps this weekend. The moderate rainstorm of the past couple days is creeping away and the heat is coming back. Expect temperatures from the 70s to even maybe the low 90s, depending on where you live (beachside, valleyside?). And as nice as the weather will be, is it a good idea to go swimming in the ocean? Some say not after the rain.

Because rain continued to drop today, the Los Angeles County Department of Health extended an advisory that warned beach goers to stay away from swimming near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers. That's because "bacteria, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas are likely to enter ocean waters though these outlets," they said.

It rains and all of the sudden there are crashes everywhere. In fact, there were 186 between midnight and earlier this morning. All this ridiculousness means fodder for comedians and the like, and, no doubt, a couple humorous ones surfaced yesterday on local blogs. Above, via Curbed LA, Conan O'Brien teases his new home and below, via the LA Now and LA Observed, a mock movie trailer for yet another Los Angeles disaster flick.

After receiving at least two feet of snow over the past 24 hours, Mammoth Mountain officials decided to move their opening date from November 12 to this Friday, they announced this morning. It is the second earliest opening for the resort ever.

Whenever it rains in Los Angeles, it exemplifies how we are all connected, whether living in the Valley or at the beach. "The county’s 2,800-mile storm drain system is designed to channel rainwater to the ocean to prevent local flooding," explains officials from the nonprofit Heal the Bay. "But it also has the unintended function of moving pollution directly into the Santa Monica and San Pedro bays following rainstorms."

The National Weather Service has canceled the Flash Flood Watch issued yesterday in conjunction with the current weather system that is bringing rains to the area. As the storm approached, residents of recent burn areas, like the hills in the northern parts of Glendale, in La Crescenta, in La Cañada-Flintridge scorched by the massive Station Fire, worked diligently to prepare their homes and hillsides for potential mud or debris flows.

Weather Underground has a pretty sweet Google Map mash-up with live graphics showing the current weather pattern over California (or zoom in on whatever city you want). As of right now there are some isolated patches of rain over Los Angeles County (map). The majority of rain in the county is expected tonight when flash flood watches go into effect.

Yes, snow. Yay! About eight inches fell over the weekend on Mammoth Mountain, signaling the possible start of ski season (they hope to officially open in November). A little more locally, the colder weather has enabled two ski resorts in the San Bernardino Mountains to make snow. "Mountain High Resort, in Wrightwood, has made snow the past two nights and may open a beginner-level trail Wednesday," reported the Press-Enterprise. Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs has made snow, but no plans to open have been announced yet.

Yesterday it was a fire weather watch, but today the National Weather Service upgraded those warnings into Red Flags. Temperatures will not be as warm as last week, but high winds and low humidity are concerning officials over potential for wildfires.

The temperatures have been great so far this week, but they might be slightly spoiled as Santa Ana winds pick up beginning Wednesday night and last through Friday. "Humidities will be dropping through the day Wednesday and by Wednesday night into Thursday many areas of Southwest California will be experiencing a combination of gusty Santa Ana winds and humidities at or below 15 percent," the National Weather Service warned.

The fire-friendly Red Flag was lifted last night as Southern California expects a small break from the hot temperatures of last week. "Basically what we're expecting early this week is a trough of low pressure to move arcross the West Coast, and as a result what that will do for us is cool our temperatures and an increase in our onshore winds from the sea, bringing the marine layer.. and cooling our temperatures significantly," explained David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service last night extended the Red Flag warning, due to expire last night, to Saturday evening for mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. However, fire-weather related warnings for Valleys in both counties did expire last night. "While the offshore winds have weakened, the triple digit heat and single digit humidities continues across the valleys and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties," a National Weather Service advisory said.

Thanks to a marine layer over the coastal areas, beach neighborhoods should experience lower to mid 70s today. However, other parts of the region will not be spared with downtown hitting an expected high of 90 and the valleys soaring into triple digits today, according to the National Weather Service. "The whole [San Fernando] Valley will be around 100 to 105," explained Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist, over the phone.

A number of fires may be burning in Ventura County and in the Inland Empire, but the Station and Morris Fires are still causing concern for health officials. No, it's not the spread of fire or smoke this time; rather, it's ash blown by the arriving Santa Ana winds.

A fire burning in Redlands within San Bernardino County has scorched at least 5 acres, according to Carl Baker with Redlands Fire Department, who spoke to KNX1070. As of 2:45 p.m., no structures had burned, but some were threatened. Evacuations have been ordered along Sunset, west of Helen in addition to homes on Edgemont and Fairmont. More evacuations had been ordered, but Baker was unaware of specifics at the time of the interview. "If this grows and continues, certainly we'll be setting up an evacuation center," he said. The blaze began around 1:45 p.m.

Well, hello, Autumn! As of 9 a.m., it was already 72 in Van Nuys, 66 in downtown L.A. and 64 at LAX and in Long Beach. But temperatures are going to soar today, prompting a Red Flag for fire danger and officials to tell the public to take heed (drink that water, stay cool). At the height of the day, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures over 100 in the Valley (100 in Burbank, 101 in Van Nuys, 104 in Woodland Hills), 96 in downtown L.A. and Long Beach, 89 at LAX, 84 in Santa Monica and 101 in Pasadena.

Forest Service officials this morning upped containment of the Station Fire one point to 94 percent after a weekend of aggressive air attacks meant to pre-empt the coming Red Flag fire weather of hotter temperatures, lower humidity and increased winds. A Red Flag will go into effect at midnight through Wednesday evening.

Although tomorrow afternoon we officially usher in fall, we're about to be swept up in another heat wave, this time complete with hot, dry Santa Ana winds. Not only does that mean we will be uncomfortably hot for another stretch of time, but also the risk for wildfires is dramatically higher. "Fire crews across Southern California will be on alert as a red flag warning goes into effect at midnight," explains abc7.com.

Citing concerns over predicted weather, prime for fueling and spreading fire, Forest Service authorities have ordered air assaults to begin tomorrow morning and throughout the next few days as needed to combat the still burning Station Fire. Four heavy helitankers will treat fuels along the north slope of Mount Wilson, a rugged area too steep for fire crews to reach by foot.

As officials announced last night, the 250-square mile Station Fire remains at 93 percent contained and in light of predicted fire-friendly weather, they hope they do not lose control of a couple hot spots still being mopped up by crews. "The remaining work is extremely difficult due to steep and rugged terrain," a Forest Service statement read. "In the area of Mt. Wilson, fire activity remains active and smoke may be seen in the area east of Mt. Wilson to Devore as undergrowth burns away and crews work to extinguish hot spots in this very rugged area," the statement continued.

Do you know which way onshore and offshore winds are going? The confusing nature of the subject has one local professor frustrated with KNBC's weatherman, Fritz Coleman. "Melanie Patton Renfrew, a Harbor College teacher, wants KNBC-TV's Fritz Coleman to change references to onshore and offshore winds. She says the terms are confusing because people don't know which are coming and which are going," reported the Associated Press. Apparently, Renfrew's insistence on the terminology has been bizarre, leaving Coleman in fear of his safety. A restraining order was put in place in March 2008, but she allegedly ignored it, which may end in jail time. A Burbank City Attorney said if Renfrew leaves Coleman alone through next August, the case will be dismissed. And in case you were wondering, "a sea-breeze originates over the ocean and blows onshore to land. The opposite is true for a land-breeze. It originates over the land and blows offshore to the ocean."

Although the Station Fire's growth early last night seemed to be a sign of a slow down, the blaze, which killed two firefighters and has destroyed over 50 structures, grew some 15,000 acres as the hours progressed. The fire remains at 5 percent containment, but the weather is expected to cool down and moisture in the air is expected to return, which should aid firefighters, save for the worry of gusty wind and dry lightening strikes. This morning the focus of firefighting efforts remain in keeping flames away from homes, particularly in areas of La Crescenta, Tujunga, Sunland, and at Mount Wilson. Backfires set last night in Acton and La Crescenta are helping to keep the burn under control. Evacuation orders in

The Station Fire is not only threatening homes across the region and broadcast towers on Mount Wilson, but also the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's two 500 KV transmission lines northeast of the Acton. "These high-voltage power lines are critical to maintaining a steady supply of power to the city, especially as demand for energy rises throughout the day," the department made in a statement noting that all in-basin power plants have been activated to generate energy.