| Day | Date | High/Low | Forecast |
| Thu | 26th | 77/60 | Mostly sunny with some high clouds remainder of day. Some evening high clouds. |
| Fri | 27th | 80/61 | Mostly sunny day with scattered high clouds. Scattered evening high clouds. |
| Sat | 28th | 84/62 | Partly cloudy through the evening with high clouds. |
| Sun | 29th | 83/59 | Partly cloudy day with high clouds. Variable evening high clouds. |
| Mon | 30th | 76/58 | Chance of some early morning low clouds/fog; Otherwise, mostly sunny day. Chance of evening low clouds. |
Synopsis
As expected, high pressure aloft has built back into the Southwest. On-shore flow weakened overnight, and the marine layer became shallower. Low clouds cleared away more quickly this morning compared with the previous couple of days. All this has led to some modest warming (relative to yesterday) in most areas (least, as common, at the coast). The warming trend should continue through Saturday with some model forecasts showing a marginal, surface off-shore flow.
As stated in the previous synopsis, it can be tricky forecasting accurately temperatures near the coast. A shallow but defined marine layer (even a diluted one) can partially offset an expected warming trend. Because the various models predict a flow aloft of subtropical air into the Southland (reason for predicted increase in high clouds by the weekend), sinking air motion (i.e. subsidence) may sufficiently mix warm air down to the ground (even at the coast). Today’s campus forecast leans with this scenario. If mixing to the ground is absent, the predicted high clouds may limit the warming in the next few days. [FYI— This month is on pace to become the warmest March on record for some locales, including UCLA.]
All the longer range models show a noticeable cooling cycle starting on Monday (Sunday cooling but expected to be minor). Depending on which model solution verifies, temperatures may fall back to near normal by the end of the month. There is some chance for slightly cooler than normal weather for the first of April (no fooling). Also of relevance, northern California may see some wet weather before the month ends (first event of the month). Model forecasts have wavered back and forth with respect to widespread, wet weather reaching the Southland next week (sometime Tuesday-Wednesday window). Although a small majority favors widespread wet weather, it’s far from a convincing majority (at least, for now). Even if the wet weather scenario verifies, details remain to be hammered out (two weak storms involved). Storm totals next week should be under a quarter inch in most lowland areas (a few solutions predict a better soaking, however). Still, don’t be surprised if no widespread, wet weather reaches southern California next week. In any case, dry and warmer weather should follow over the subsequent weekend.
Next issued forecast/synopsis should be on Monday, 30 March.