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Climate & Environment

Your SoCal Weather Report For Wednesday, Dec 28: More High Surf And Coastal Flooding Expected

A geothermal map of SoCal in shades of orange, red and some yellow.
Forecast highs for Thursday.
(
Courtesy NWS
)

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A powerful storm system over the north and central Pacific waters, along with hurricane force winds, is producing high surf along our coasts.

    Quick Facts

    • Today’s weather: Sunny, cool
    • Beaches: 60s
    • Mountains/deserts: 60s/62-73
    • Inland: upper 60s - low 70s
    • Warnings and advisories: Air Quality Alert, Coastal Flooding, High Surf

    Temperatures across the Southland will range in the 60s again today. Along the coast, expect highs in the mid 60s and patchy fog until 10 a.m. for L.A. County beaches.

    Highs for the San Fernando Valley will range on the lower end of the 70s, up to 73 in Woodland Hills. San Gabriel Valley highs will top at 69 degrees. More inland, expect an average of 69 degrees, up to 70 degrees in San Bernardino.

    Tonight's lows will drop to 50 degrees for most of the Southland.

    About those advisories

    Avoid lighting up your chimney or fire pits and stay away from the beaches.

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    Indoor and outdoor wood burning continues to be prohibited across most of the Southland today.

    The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a no-burn order until midnight due to high levels of pollution in the air.

    The no-burn order applies to the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino — except for the desert areas.

    Coastal Flooding And High Surf

    The public is being asked to stay away from the waters and be alert for flooding.

    Los Angeles and Ventura county beaches are under a coastal flooding advisory until 10 p.m. Saturday. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld with the National Weather Service said coastal flooding will be more likely each morning during high tides.

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    "This big swell of wave energy is heading towards those southern counties right now, currently we're seeing significant wave heights out in the waters. Off the shore of Ventura County of around 10 feet but we are expecting those to increase as the morning progresses," Schoenfeld said.

    Flooding of low lying coastal areas such as parking lots, beaches and walkways are expected.
    Local sets of 15 to 20 feet will be likely near Point Conception, including Hermosa, Manhattan, and Palos Verdes Beaches

    In Orange County, a high surf advisory is in effect until 2 a.m. Monday.

    Weather forecasters say the two largest swells will happen Thursday and Saturday morning during high tide.

    Waves are expected to reach 6 to 12 feet, with the highest sets in northern Orange County beaches like Huntington Beach and Seal Beach.

    More north up the coast, there's high surf advisories in Ventura and Santa Barbara where swells of up to 20 feet are expected.

    This day in history

    On this day in 2021, a powerful storm struck the region, causing flooding on the streets of Seal Beal and boulders to fall on Highway 138 in Crestline.

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    Things to do

    It's Thursday.

    • Holocaust Survivor Talk: Artist and Holocaust survivor Gabriella Karin was born in 1930 and she regularly speaks about the atrocities her family endured during World War II. This week, she joins the Holocaust Museum in L.A. to share her story.

    Check out our full list of things to do this weekend.

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