‘Very warm weather’ and ‘monsoonal moisture’ coming to Southern California

Weather officials are advising SoCal residents of a wave of high temperatures and potential thunderstorms that will affect parts of the region this week. 

The National Weather Service put out an alert on Monday indicating that “a broad area with a 10 to 20 percent chance of thunderstorms [poses] risks of isolate dry lighting fire starts” through midweek. 

“Tuesday morning through at least Wednesday, there is a 30 to 50 percent chance of thunderstorms across the Antelope Valley and eastern San Gabriel Mountains, including the Bridge Burn Scar,” NWS stated. “There is a risk of heavy downpours with flash flooding and debris flows, as well as strong downburst outflow winds gusts of 40 to 60 mph.” 

NWS’ area forecast discussion, which, as of publishing, was updated just before 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, had a similar message.

“Very warm weather is expected again [Tuesday]. Monsoonal moisture will last through at least Thursday and will bring a chance of thunderstorms and showers to the area,” the area forecast discussion reads. “The heaviest storms will be focused over the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Mountains through late Wednesday.” 

“Any storms may produce lightning, flash flooding and gusty, locally damaging winds,” the forecast discussion further states. 

Due to the high temperatures, a Heat Advisory is in place for much of SoCal. It is set to expire at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“Hot daytime conditions with high temperatures of 96 to 107 degrees [will be] common, with warm overnight conditions,” the Heat Advisory indicates.

Video taken around 4 a.m. Tuesday shows lightning flickering over Simi Valley. The activity was related to a storm system that was hovering over the Central Coast overnight and is set to bring moisture to SoCal as it moves southward. No rainfall was recorded right away on Tuesday morning, however.

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