Warming Trend to Gust Through Pasadena

Pasadena and the rest of Southwestern California will be experiencing gusty Santa Ana winds Friday through Monday. Combine that with very low humidity forecasts, and that could mean elevated fire danger for most of Los Angeles County.

These conditions are further enhanced by a warming trend in the area due to a high pressure ridge over the West Coast, says the National Weather Service.

“High pressure aloft over the West Coast is expected to peak in intensity Monday before gradually weakening,” says today’s Area Forecast Discussion for Southwestern California. “This pattern will support a warming trend with gusty offshore winds at times through early next week. Record warmth is possible Monday into Tuesday.”

That warming trend will be evident Friday as sunny weather prevails over Pasadena which will experience highs near 75 degrees, low around 47 tonight. Winds of 5 to 10 miles per hour will blow in from the north and northeast with gusts as high as 15 mph later today.

Saturday will be sunny and even warmer, a high near 77, low around 50.

Sunday’s high could go up to 83 degrees, but wind advisories – and 90 degree temperatures – could be very possible by Monday and Tuesday, when the NWS says there could be a “significant strong Santa Ana wind event across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”

“Maximum temperatures should rise a few more degrees on Monday to near record normal levels in some areas,” the NWS Forecast Discussion says. “However, if the winds are as strong as indicated by the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) models, some cooler air from the deserts could offset any warming. Offshore flow will linger on Tuesday, but winds should be weaker. It will be another warm day across the region. A high temp of 90 degrees would not be out of the question somewhere in the forecast area Monday or Tuesday.

Monday and Tuesday in Pasadena will be clear and sunny, highs predicted between 86 and 88, and lows around 55.