Feb. 16--As quickly as Southern Californians whipped out sunblock when temperatures soared into the 90s Monday, forecasters said it's time to dust off the umbrellas because rain is moving into the area by late Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says to expect big weather changes this week, mostly brought on by a south-moving low-pressure system. But ahead of the dramatic change, a finale of sorts took place Tuesday with hot, dry weather shattering heat records across Southern California.
It reached 88 degrees at UCLA and Camarillo, beating each area's records of 84 and 86 degrees, respectively, officials said. It was 87 degrees at Los Angeles International Airport by the afternoon, breaking its old record of 84 degrees, forecasters said.
Downtown, the thermometer hit 89 degrees, breaking its record of 88 degrees set in 1977, the weather service said. Santa Barbara also broke a heat record for the day.
Winds from Los Angeles to Ventura counties were expected to top 50 mph along the coast and valleys as record high temperatures continue to hover in the mid 80s and low 90s. In the mountains, wind gusts could reach 40 mph as record high temperatures continue.
On Monday, record high temperatures were set in Long Beach, at UCLA and in Oxnard. Downtown Los Angeles set a record for the day at 89 degrees. The old record was 88, which was set in 1985.
But forecasters expect a major weather shift Tuesday night with temperatures dropping 15 to 20 degrees.
By Wednesday evening, rain will develop over Los Angeles County. Forecasters say the storm could bring a quarter- to a half-inch of rain in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Los Angeles and Ventura counties could receive 0.10 to 0.25 inches of rain.
The latest storm won't bring much in the way of snow for the area's mountains.
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The rest of the month looks dry with a sudden change during the first week of March, when a much wetter pattern is expected, the weather service said.
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