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Your SoCal Weather Report For Friday, Dec 8: Stay Ready For Wildfire Risks
Today's weather will see similar cool temps but very windy with Santa Ana winds.
Today's forecast will be similar to yesterday's cooler temperatures, but watch out for windy weather and low humidity that have heightened the risk of wildfires.
Quick Facts
- Today’s weather: Cool, windy
- Beaches: 60s
- Mountains: 50s-60s/58-72
- Inland: upper 60s
- Warnings and advisories: Fire Weather Watch, Beach Hazards statement, High Winds
Coastal areas and mountains will see the coolest temperatures with highs in the upper 50s for the mountains and mid 60s for the beaches. Strong rip currents and high surf will still impact beaches today (read more about it below).
Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles will drop to 68 degrees and in the valleys, expect highs in the upper 60s — the warmest parts of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys will reach up to 69 degrees.
It will reach 57 degrees in the Antelope Valley.
Inland areas temperatures haven't changed much, reaching 67 degrees for Riverside, and 68 degrees for San Bernardino and Anaheim.
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Low deserts will see a high of 72 degrees whereas in the high desert, temperatures dropped to 58 degrees.
Nighttime lows will drop to the mid 40s, down to the mid 30s for the high desert and Antelope Valley.
About those advisories
Beach Hazards Statement
The National Weather Service is cautioning beachgoers to beware of strong rip currents and high surf today for L.A County beaches today. Expect high surf between 3 to 6 feet.
Wind Advisories and Fire Weather Watch
Several wind advisories are out for the Southland — the strongest winds will be felt along L.A. and Riverside county mountains and valleys, including beaches. Drivers be careful on the 5 Freeway and Highway 14 corridors where wind gusts can reach up to 65 mph.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch. That's because low humidity, dry vegetation and high winds can spark wildfires. If that's where you live, be on alert as the weather service will decide later today if the windy conditions will call for a Red Flag warning.
Southern California Edison has issued Public Safety Power Shutoff warnings for customers of Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
The same warning will also apply to residents of Riverside and Orange counties starting tomorrow as the Santa Anas are expected to last through Sunday.
That means with the risky weather conditions SoCal Edison can shut off power for a period of time to limit the risk of wildfires. This could affect more than 65,300 customers.
How to stay safe in high-risk areas
- Back your car into your driveway and have your go bag in the car, ready to leave at a moment’s notice
- If you get an emergency alert, follow the instructions given by emergency services. They’ll be coordinating evacuations, and will make efforts to keep roads from getting clogged
- Consider leaving long before any fire breaks out. Smith said he knows people in Topanga that leave as soon as a red flag event starts
This day in history
On this day in 1988 strong Santa Ana winds blew through L.A and San Bernardino counties producing wind gusts up to 90 mph.
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Things to do
We made it to Friday! Here's an event to kick off your weekend:
- Princess Presents: A Very Special Holiday Special: Princess, the Prince Tribute band featuring Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum, plays a holiday show on Friday night. And they’re bringing surprise guests. This is an all-ages show.
- Looking to binge watch some new TV? Check out my colleague's What To Watch This Weekend guide
Check out our full list of things to do this weekend.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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