The Weather : Odds Are Even That Rainy Weekend Is Due

The Pacific storm track, distorted by a high-pressure area since late January, is shifting back over California, and there is a 50% chance of rain this weekend, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

High temperature at Los Angeles Civic Center Thursday was 63 degrees, with relative humidity ranging from 34% to 71%, but forecasters said it should be five or six degrees cooler today, with a 30% chance of rain during the afternoon, rising to 50% by Saturday morning.

A weather front associated with a storm off the Washington coast, meteorologists said, will be moving through Southern California tonight, leaving moisture and continued cloudiness that should last until Sunday, when clearing skies and warmer temperatures are expected.

Beaches were expected to see cloudy skies today and Saturday, with air and water temperatures both reaching about 56 degrees by mid-afternoon, and surf running two to three feet on a 12-second interval.

Winds on Tap

Offshore, yachtsmen keeping to inner waters from Point Conception to the Mexican border were told to expect south to southeast winds to 20 knots, while those venturing into outer waters were warned of 25-knot south-to-southeast winds and combined seas to eight feet.

Forecasters said afternoon temperatures in Southern California’s mountains should reach from the mid-30s to the low 40s at resort levels, with overnight lows well below freezing. The snow level was expected to descend to 6,000 feet Saturday, with southerly winds to 25 m.p.h. today, shifting west-northwest and rising to 30 m.p.h. Saturday.

Winter storm conditions were predicted for the Sierra, with gusty winds, blowing snow and hazardous driving conditions expected to continue through the weekend. The snow level was expected to be as low as 2,500 feet in some places, with winds rising to 30 m.p.h. at times and overnight temperatures dropping to the teens.

Snow Forecast

The Arizona mountains also were expecting snow--but in far more moderate amounts--with the snow level holding above 6,000 feet and temperatures ranging from near zero overnight to the 30s and 40s.

Higher temperatures--to the mid-60s--were expected at lower altitudes in Arizona, but cloudy skies and showers were forecast for today and Saturday, with a return to clear skies by Sunday.

Showers were forecast for Southern California’s deserts too, with west-to-southwest winds gusting to 25 m.p.h. through Saturday. The Weather Service said high- and low-desert temperatures should range from the mid-40s to the mid-50s.

The Las Vegas forecast called for some cloudiness, with strong, gusty winds and a chance of rain holding on until next Tuesday.

San Francisco’s weekend was expected to include a 40% chance of rain through Saturday night, with partial clearing Sunday, and temperatures from the low to mid 50s.

Ensenada visitors were told to look for partial cloudiness.