Weather
Coastal Flooding, High Surf Expected In Santa Monica As Winter Weather Continues
Cold weather is continuing this week as forecasters expect rain, high winds and coastal flooding to batter LA County.
![A High Surf advisory for Los Angeles County beaches is in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday until 3 p.m. Thursday and a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. to noon Thursday.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/26494162/20240109/055933/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-593985515___09175832605.jpg)
SANTA MONICA, CA — Chilly overnight temperatures are set to continue this week across Los Angeles County as a new weather system is expected to bring coastal flooding and high surf to Santa Monica along with a chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Light rain is possible across LA County Wednesday night, with the greatest chance of precipitation in the mountains and San Gabriel Valley. "Rainfall totals should be one quarter of an inch or less in most areas," the NWS wrote.
Highs Thursday will be six to 12 degrees below normal across the region, before temperatures warm slightly on Friday, the NWS said.
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A High Surf advisory for LA County beaches is in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday until 3 p.m. Thursday and a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. to noon Thursday.
Large, breaking waves up to eight feet are expected along with dangerous rip currents, the NWS said.
Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Flooding of sea water is likely, around the time of high tide, over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas such as parking lots, beaches and walkways," the NWS wrote. "There is an increased risk for ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore."
Across LA County, "the main impact from this system will be the widespread strong (and) possibly damaging west to northwest winds beginning late Wednesday," the NWS wrote.
The mountains and valleys are expected to see the most wind; a High Wind Warning will be in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday until noon Thursday. Winds between 30 to 40 mph are expected along with gusts of up to 70 mph. Isolated gusts up to 80 mph are also possible, according to the NWS.
The warning covers the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Mountains and eastern Santa Monica Mountains.
High winds are also expected in Malibu and the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, according to the NWS.
Overnight lows below freezing are expected again Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the valleys and high desert. A Freeze Warning is in effect between midnight and 10 a.m. Wednesday in Calabasas and Agoura Hills, where temperatures are expected to drop to at least 31 degrees for an extended period, according to the NWS.
The chill isn't expected to be as deep or as widespread as it was early Tuesday morning, when the NWS recorded lows in the mid-20s in the Antelope Valley and low to upper 30s in the San Fernando Valley. The LA County coast saw temps in the mid-40s; it hit 44 degrees at LAX.
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