Storm expected to clear for sunny, breezy Memorial Day – but mountains will be cold
Patches of rain over Southern California expected overnight will give way to mostly clear skies on Memorial Day, Monday May 27, in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties, forecasters say.
Light to moderate showers fell as the storm system heading south from Northern California passed through on Sunday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Samantha Connolly said. Coasts and valleys should receive between one-fourth and one-half of an inch of rain through the evening.
About an inch of precipitation should come down in the Santa Ana and Riverside Mountains, while even heavier rainfall is expected along the San Bernardino Mountains. Meanwhile, between 3 and 6 inches of snow was forecast to fall at altitudes as low as 5,000 feet on mountain ranges in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, where a winter weather advisory was in effect until 3 a.m. Monday. Meteorologists advised motorists throughout Southern California to prepare for slick road conditions Sunday night.
1:40 PM radar update: showers increasing in coverage across Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Periods of showers expected through tonight, tapering off tomorrow morning
#cawx pic.twitter.com/JqGKxxRLez
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) May 26, 2019
Some showers or patches of rain may linger, but skies should clear up on Monday, with high temperatures in the mid to upper 60’s. Memorial day should be breezy, with 5 to 10 mph winds blowing through most of the southland. Conditions are expected to be slightly windier in Orange and San Diego Counties during the holiday, with wind speeds reaching up to 15 mph.
“It should be a really great day to be out,” said Connolly.
However, wind chill temperatures were expected to be below 32 degrees in mountain regions near Los Angeles, where a cold weather alert issued by county health officials was extended through Monday. Residents in those areas, especially children, the elderly and people with disabilities or special medical needs, were urged to dress in layers and stay indoors as much as possible. Those without heat will be able to warm themselves at shelters and other public facilities, Los Angeles County health officials said.
As night falls on Monday, patchy fog may form along the beaches of Long Beach, Los Angeles and other coastal areas, which could persist into the remainder of the week, according to forecasts. But, skies should clear up on Tuesday in Riverside and San Bernardino county, and should remain sunny until Wednesday evening.