12:00 PM | Fabio's moisture now moving into southern California

Discussion

Late last week we started mentioning the possibility that the remains of Hurricane Fabio could affect southern California and now it’s leftover moisture is streaming into the region and showers and thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and tonight from San Diego to Los Angeles. By later tonight, the bulk of the moisture will be out of the area as the system is moving fairly quickly. Flash flooding is not too likely as any showers and thunderstorms that do move inland will be moving along at quite a quick pace, but we’ll monitor the situation; especially, over the mountains where some heavy rain can fall. Also, large swells of up to 4-6 feet can occur due to the remnants of Fabio this afternoon and evening. It is quite rare that rain from a tropical storm actually affects the Los Angeles basin. The last time that this happened was with the remains of Hurricane Dean during August of 2007 that actually made landfall in Santa Barbara.

7:00 AM | Fabio throws some moisture our way increasing our chances for shower activity

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly cloudy skies with a chance for a few afternoon showers and maybe a thunderstorm, highs near 70 degrees

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, breezy, chance for showers and thunderstorms, lows in the lower 60’s

Thursday

Chance for a morning shower or thunderstorm then becoming partly sunny, near 70

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, cool, fog late, low 60’s

Friday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Saturday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Sunday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Monday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, upper 60’s

Discussion

Last Thursday we talked about the possibility that the remains of Fabio could affect the southwestern part of the country and indeed it appears that even though the system has weakened to tropical depression status, moisture will stream into Southern California today into early tomorrow. As Fabio's leftover moisture heads our way our chances for showers will increase later today into the early part of Thursday, but then a drying trend will develop tomorrow afternoon and highs will generally be within a few degrees of 70 over the next few days.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/7vOtAWqw0Ec

7:00 AM | Monsoonal moisture plays a role in our weather for much of the week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, not as hot, chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms, highs in the upper 80's

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, mild, chance for a few evening showers and thunderstorms, low 60’s for lows

Wednesday

Partly sunny, very warm, chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, mild, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 60’s

Thursday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for an afternoon shower or thunderstorm, low 90’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, hot, low 90’s

Saturday

Mainly sunny, hot, low 90's

Sunday

Mainly sunny, very warm, near 90

Discussion

There is enough monsoonal moisture around today for more shower and thunderstorm activity to re-develop this afternoon. In fact, subtropical moisture will work with diurnal heating to destabilize the atmosphere for much of the week from the Desert Southwest into the central Rockies giving us the daily threat for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/ffV2WzS-gvM

7:00 AM | Cool pattern continues till later this week; Fabio's leftover moisture could affect our weather on Wednesday night and Thursday morning

6-Day Forecast

Today

Fog possible early then partly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late, lows in the lower 60’s

Wednesday

Fog possible early then partly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, cool, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, fog late, low 60’s

Thursday

Fog possible early then remaining mostly cloudy, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, upper 60’s

Friday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, upper 60’s

Saturday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, upper 60’s

Sunday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, upper 60’s

Discussion

Upper level low pressure is expected to linger just off the northwestern California coast through tomorrow keeping us on the cool side and then we’ll have to watch the remains of tropical system Fabio as its moisture could stream into the SW US on Wednesday night after a turn to the north. This moisture will give us an increased chance for a shower or thunderstorm during Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Beyond that, it appears as if the marine layer will relax late this week and that could promote a slight warming trend into the weekend.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/ffV2WzS-gvM

7:00 AM | Update on the weekend solar storm; highs near 90 degrees next couple of days with a significant rain threat thanks to monsoonal moisture

6-Day Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, hot, chance for showers and thunderstorms late, some of the rain can be heavy, highs near 90

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, mild, more showers and thunderstorms likely, some of the rain can be heavy, low 60’s for lows

Tuesday

Partly sunny, very warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, mild, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 60’s

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, very warm, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, near 90

Thursday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 90’s

Friday

Mainly sunny, hot, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 90’s

Saturday

Mainly sunny, very warm, near 90

Discussion

A long-lasting geomagnetic storm did occur over the weekend as a result of the coronal mass ejection (CME) from Thursday’s X-class solar flare. At first the CME’s impact seemed relatively weak, but then conditions in the wake of the CME became somewhat stormy with satellites in geosynchronous orbits exposed to solar wind plasma according to NASA Goddard scientists. Also, northern lights were visible over the weekend (where the skies were clear) as far south as Colorado, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska and across many northern US states from Maine to Washington.

In general, it looks like a pretty hot week around here with enough monsoonal moisture around for some shower and thunderstorm activity through much of the week. Subtropical moisture will, in fact, increase the chances for some heavy shower and thunderstorm activity today and tomorrow with high temperatures ending up within a few degrees of 90.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/n-8Q7VNXXA0

7:00 AM | Update on the weekend solar storm; cool trend continues early this week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Fog possible early then remaining mostly cloudy, cool, mid-to-upper 60’s

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late and maybe even some drizzle, lows near 60 degrees

Tuesday

Fog possible early then remaining mostly cloudy, cool, mid-to-upper 60’s

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, cool, fog late, near 60

Wednesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Thursday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Friday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Saturday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, low 70’s

Discussion

A long-lasting geomagnetic storm did occur over the weekend as a result of the coronal mass ejection (CME) from Thursday’s X-class solar flare. At first the CME’s impact seemed relatively weak, but then conditions in the wake of the CME became somewhat stormy with satellites in geosynchronous orbits exposed to solar wind plasma according to NASA Goddard scientists. Also, northern lights were visible over the weekend (where the skies were clear) as far south as Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska and across many northern US states from Maine to Washington.

A cooling trend that began over the weekend as trough of low pressure approached the west coast will continue through the early week. The overall weather pattern has increased the strength of the marine layer inducing more late night and early coastal low clouds and fog and even some drizzle is possible during those time periods. A slight warming trend may develop later in the week as the marine layer relaxes.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/n-8Q7VNXXA0

7:00 AM | Unusual threat for showers and thunderstorms to close out the week; cooling trend begins this weekend and continues early next week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Considerable clouds today with scattered showers and thunderstorms, breezy, highs near 70 degrees

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late, lows in the mid 60’s

Saturday

Becoming mostly sunny after morning fog, breezy, near 70

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, cool, fog late, mid 60’s

Sunday

Becoming mostly sunny after early morning fog, pleasant, upper 60’s

Monday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Tuesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Wednesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Discussion

The combination of monsoonal moisture and an upper level disturbance will continue to give us the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms to close out the week and some of the rain can get heavy in the mountains. A low pressure system will then close in on the coast this weekend which will bring about a slight cooling trend to the area along with a renewed onshore marine-layer flow of air. Looking ahead, there is the chance that some moisture could head into the southern California region early next week from a tropical system south of Baja that could become named Fabio as it turns to the northwest from its current location.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/ChPMm-gJiic

7:00 AM | Solar storm unleashes coronal mass ejection; shower/storm threat here for the weekend

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly sunny, hot, highs in the lower 90's

Tonight

Partly cloudy, mild, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 60’s for lows

Saturday

Partly sunny, very warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, mild, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 60’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, very warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Monday

Partly sunny, very warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Tuesday

Mainly sunny, very warm, slight chance for showers and thunderstorms, upper 80’s

Wednesday

Mainly sunny, very warm, slight chance for showers and thunderstorms, upper 80’s

Discussion

Humongous sunspot AR1520 unleashed an X-class solar flare on Thursday afternoon while directly facing the Earth and a coronal mass ejection (CME) is headed towards the Earth. Forecasters expect the CME to arrive later tonight possibly sparking strong geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers should be on alert for the next few nights for possible "northern lights" throughout the northern part of the US.

Closer to home, high pressure in the upper atmosphere will move eastward today from over the western part of Colorado in response to upper level low pressure that will approach the Pacific Northwest. As a result, our flow of air will change from northwest to southwest and this will increase our moisture amounts for the weekend which will increase our chances for showers and thunderstorms.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/ChPMm-gJiic

3:10 PM | Sunspot AR1520 breaks its silence and unleashes an X-class solar flare

Discussion

UPDATE: Sunspot AR1520 has broken its silence and has unleashed an X-flare at 1653 UT (12:53 PM EDT) which is classified as a strong event - the highest level of classification given by solar scientists. Because the sunspot was directly facing the Earth at the time of the blast, it very well could have an impact on the Earth’s atmosphere in the very near term. These kinds of events can cause an abundance of "northern lights" in the northern latitudes over the next few nights including much of the US, and they can seriously disrupt radio and satellite communications. It is still a little too early to tell exactly how serious the effects may be so stay tuned.

11:50 AM Sunspot AR1520 has now rotated into a position that is directly facing the Earth, but so far it has been relatively quiet and has only produced moderate-strength solar flares. From this current position on the sun, AR1520 could unleash flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that could have a high latitude impact including auroras and potentially some satellite and radio transmission disruptions depending on how large the flare is. NOAA forecasters estimate that this sunspot has about a 15% chance of producing the strongest-type of flare during the next 24 hours which is classified as an X-flare. This gigantic sunspot, one of the biggest in years, is so wide it stretches roughly 139,000 kilometers across the sun which is about 11 Earth diameters. This particular sunspot is even larger than its predecessor, AR1515, which was visible on the sun last week before it rotated around to the back side of the sun. Stay tuned.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/CGPqMqYAZ38

11:50 AM | Humongous sunspot AR1520 now facing the Earth, but it has been relatively quiet during the last 48 hours

Discussion

Sunspot AR1520 has now rotated into a position that is directly facing the Earth, but so far it has been relatively quiet and has only produced moderate-strength solar flares. From this current position on the sun, AR1520 could unleash flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that could have a high latitude impact including auroras and potentially some satellite and radio transmission disruptions depending on how large the flare is. NOAA forecasters estimate that this sunspot has about a 15% chance of producing the strongest-type of flare during the next 24 hours which is classified as an X-flare. This gigantic sunspot, one of the biggest in years, is so wide it stretches roughly 139,000 kilometers across the sun which is about 11 Earth diameters. This particular sunspot is even larger than its predecessor, AR1515, which was visible on the sun last week before it rotated around to the back side of the sun. Stay tuned.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/CGPqMqYAZ38