March in Southern California has been marked almost exclusively with unusually warm temperatures, but the month is about to end with a cool one.
A dramatic change in the weather will see temperatures drop across the region this week and there will be little chance of rain – this is more typical of early spring than summer-like temperatures in the region.
“It’ll be a nice reprieve this week,” Brian Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said Sunday. “We’re expecting some pretty significant cooling over the next two days.”
Lewis said a low pressure system moving into the area will push temperatures down, but maximum temperatures will still be “a little cooler than normal.” Widespread highs will likely be in the 60s by Tuesday and Wednesday.
That’s a notable turnaround from Sunday’s highs, which surged across the sector and even broke some daily records. In Lancaster and Palmdale, thermometers reached 88 degrees, setting a new record for each city, according to the weather service. Farther inland, Riverside, Borrego and Paso Robles also reached record highs for the day of 93, 97 and 89 degrees, respectively. Palm Springs set a daily record of 98 degrees for March 29.
The high Sunday in downtown Los Angeles was 86 degrees, according to the weather service. Highs this time of year are typically in the low 70s.
Change in weather is also bringing the possibility of some rain. There’s about a 20% chance of some rain on Tuesday, Lewis said, but this week remains dry compared to early models.
“Whatever falls will be fairly light,” he said.
However, the change in cold weather is not projected to last long. A cool spell will allow March to kick off like a lamb, but the heat will soon creep back up.
By Friday, another round of Santa Ana winds are expected to return to the region, bringing hot, dry air back to the area.
“Next weekend,” Lewis said, “we’ll look at a little warm-up again.”
