Storm May Bring Chill of Autumn

The hazy, tepid days of Indian summer should give way to the first bit of autumn chill in Orange County over the weekend by way of a major winter storm expected to develop over the next several days.

After a week or more of warm temperatures and clear skies, the National Weather Service was predicting a cool and cloudy weekend with the chance of showers by early next week--and maybe even a bit of snow in the mountains.

Highs of 65 at the beaches to 73 inland were predicted for Orange County through Monday, with overnight lows dipping to a chilly 42.

Door Open for Storm

All of this, the National Weather Service said, is because a large high-pressure area that has been nudging Pacific storms to the north has begun to shift, opening the door to California.

A statewide forecast issued in San Francisco said: “It is difficult to determine the evolution of events, but a major winter storm is expected to develop sometime during the next three to five days.”

The Orange County forecast is for the usual fog and low clouds this morning, then more of the same tonight and Saturday, when it will become generally cloudy.

Thursday’s temperature in Newport Beach peaked at 68, after an overnight low of 58. The mercury climbed to 76 in Santa Ana.

Southern California mountain areas are expected to be relatively clear through tonight but will have variable cloudiness on Saturday. Resort highs will drop from the mid-60s today to the high 50s and low 60s on Saturday. They may have rain or snow showers by Monday or Tuesday, the weather service said.

Desert areas also may have rain by the first of the week. They will be clear through tonight and have variable high cloudiness on Saturday.

Beach Outlook

There will be gusty westerly winds 20 to 30 m.p.h. in the northern deserts. High temperatures in the upper deserts will be 70 to 78 today and 64 to 74 on Saturday. In the lower deserts, they will be 84 to 88 today and 76 to 84 on Saturday.

Along the beaches, the surf will be two to three feet from Zuma Beach to Mission Beach at 11- to 12-second intervals.

Off the coast, there will be light variable winds in the inner waters, becoming southwest at 10 to 15 knots this afternoon and evening. Swells will be two to three feet. In the outer waters from Point Conception to San Clemente Island, there will be east to southeast winds at four to eight knots today. Combined seas will be three to six feet.