El Niño Is Going To Give Us A Much Needed Break Today

Let this be your chance to dry up a bit.After storms from earlier in the week dropped as much as 5 inches of rain in some parts of Southern California, Thursday and Friday are going to be a much needed reprieve. On Thursday, we aren't expecting more than a half inch of rain across the region and it should taper off by the afternoon:

While Thursday's weather forecast expects less rain, the National Weather Service says that the storm will make its presence felt in other ways. In particular, the surf will be heavy on the coast. Officials are warning people to stay out of the water, with surf expected to be between 10 and 15 feet, and as high as 18 feet at times. "We don't normally do surf warnings unless it's over 15 feet," National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan told the L.A. Times. "It's going to be very strong."

All the runoff from the storms the last few days are going to make the water really gross anyway. You don't want to go to the beach.

If you are going out of town to hit up the fresh snow at Big Bear, be advised that the NWS has issued a winter weather advisory for this morning in the mountains above 3,500 feet, with some areas forecast to see as much as 6 inches of snow. Winds might also top out at 45 miles per hour in the mountains.

NWS says Friday will be dry with another system rolling in on Saturday, also bringing in no more than half an inch of rain.