HAPPINESS

IS A WARM CUP

May 10, 2021, 9:50 PM PDT

Southern California Overview:

Cooler weather will prevail today with temperatures near to slightly below normal. A warming trend is in store Tuesday through Thursday, with temperatures warming to 5 to 10 degrees above normal for inland areas. The marine layer will continue each night and morning, but will be shallower and less extensive Tuesday through Thursday night. A low pressure system will move into California this weekend, bringing cooler temperatures, increased onshore flow, and more extensive marine layer cloud cover.

United States Overview:

There is an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of south-central Texas through Tuesday morning. There is a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Tennessee/Lower Mississippi Valleys and the Southern Plains through Wednesday morning. Late-season snowfall is likely across the Northern/Central Rockies and High Plains with much colder than average temperatures. Warm and dry conditions will cause fire danger in the southwestern U.S. and California.

Late season Santa Ana winds brought record warmth and very low relative humidity to the entire region. On Catalina Island, a careless spark from welding equipment ignited the Island Fire. The fire spread rapidly just northwest of the city of Avalon, reaching the city outskirts by nightfall. Nearly 1,200 people were asked to evacuate their homes, while dozens of fire engines were transported to the island via military hovercraft. Ultimately, the fire consumed 4,750 acres (nearly five times the size of any prior wildfire on the island) and destroyed six structures.