Rain, Dramatic Drop In Temperatures To Bring SoCal Heat Wave To An End

SAN DIEGO, CA — After a stretch of January-February heat waves, forecasters said rain and cooler weather will return this week to Southern California.

Warm conditions will persist Monday before a weak storm system brings a chance of light to moderate rain and more seasonable temperatures to the region, according to the National Weather Service. By Tuesday, daytime highs are expected to drop by about 15 degrees in many places.

"A high pressure system has been parked over California for the last month. This has kept rain and snow primarily over the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia from much of January through the beginning of February, while California remained warm and dry," AccuWeather Meteorologist Kai Kerkow said.

"This weather pattern will begin to change starting in the beginning of the new week as the high pressure begins to weaken, allowing for a more active pattern as we move into the middle of February," Kerkow added.

The rainfall is expected mainly Tuesday evening through early Wednesday, weather officials said. Gusty southwest to west winds are also predicted Tuesday through Thursday.

Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is forecast for the Los Angeles area, according to the National Weather Service.

Orange and southwestern San Bernardino counties could see one-third to one-half inch of rain near the coast, with one-half to one inch possible on the coastal slopes of the San Bernardino mountains. Rainfall totals are expected to taper from north to south, with as little as one-tenth to one-
quarter inch of rain predicted for southern San Diego County.

With the chance for showers, most areas will see a sharp drop in temperatures compared to the summer-like weekend. Temperatures will cool in the middle of the week, followed by a gradual warming trend for late week into the weekend, weather officials said.

Here's a look at forecasted high temperatures across Southern California:

Dry and warmer weather is expected Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. More widespread and heavier rain could spread into the region by early next week.