Forecasting Here Is Different

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Math was my favorite subject. Maps and graphs draw me in. The rhythm of the atmosphere fascinates me. I was very lucky to find weather.

I don’t study the atmospheric charts as intently as I did while forecasting every day in Connecticut. I still look.

Forecasting here is different.

Since we arrived in late June few fronts have passed through. None were strong.

Most of the ‘weather’ has been spawned by localized effects close to ground level and the wind direction. Easterly winds are mostly dry and often hot. Westerlies are cooler (though never cold).

Wednesday we get an offshore flow. In other words, easterly winds. Here’s what the Weather Service forecast office for Los Angeles says in their tech discussion:

WITH THE AMOUNT OF WARMING TAKING PLACE ALOFT…CLEARING SKIES…AND THE STRENGTHENING OFFSHORE FLOW…A WARMING TREND SHOULD TAKE PLACE FOR WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WERE BUMPED UP SLIGHTLY FOR WEDNESDAY FOR THE COASTAL AND VALLEY LOCATIONS WHERE COMPRESSIONAL HEATING WILL TAKE PLACE.

We’ll get close to 90&#176. Not bad for November 12th.

The ocean’s effect on SoCal is immense! Take a look at the map at the top of this entry (click to enlarge). Ocean water off the East Coast is warmer. The cooler water here is a stabilizing factor. It’s not the humidity pump the Gulf Stream can be.

gfs-snaOne of the models, the GFS, has light rain or drizzle Friday and Saturday. Close to the coast, Saturday is likely a no Sun day! Unusual.

Everything you need to know about this little event is packed in the lowest 5,000 feet of the atmosphere. An airplane climbing out from LAX will break into the sunshine in the first two minutes of flight! I’m not yet used to that.

The GFS goes out to the 21st. Through that period all the active weather is north of us or on the right side of the country. This spotty precip is the worst we see.

One thought on “Forecasting Here Is Different”

  1. Geoff, I know when you reported the weather in CT, you talked about fog. I’ve never seen fog here like it is in So. CA. It can be so dense there, you cannot see anything in front of you. You are basically driving blind. There was a massive accident north of Sacramento. It was a combination of black ice & thick fog. You should come back here right now, it is in the high 20’s.

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