Clouds to Hold Off Sun Just a Little Longer

A strong onshore flow of moisture-laden air over Southern California has thickened the marine layer to nearly 4,000 feet, allowing the normal late-night and early-morning cloudiness characterizing this time of year to move further inland, forecasters said.

Otherwise, the Los Angeles area will have hazy sunshine today once the cloudiness burns off, with temperatures ranging from the upper 60s along the coast to the 80s inland, said Dave Beusterien, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc. which provides forecasts for The Times.

The onshore flow of air will decrease Saturday as the jet stream shifts northward, leaving a thinner marine layer and allowing the mercury to creep up a few notches, he said. Inland areas should see highs on Saturday around 90, and the Los Angeles Civic Center temperature will be in the mid-80s.

The only disruption in the pattern of early-morning clouds and hazy sunshine is a slight chance of thundershowers in the southern mountins and lower deserts on Sunday, Beusterien said.

Mountain areas will have high temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to the upper 80s, while the high deserts will range from 95 to 105. Low deserts will sizzle with highs between 101 and 111.

Inner-coastal waters from Point Conception to the Mexican border will have 2-foot seas with southwest swells of 4 feet tonight. Southwesterly winds of 10 to 15 knots will decrease to 10 knots or less overnight and shift to south to southeast.

Authorities issued a small-craft advisory for today in outer coastal waters from Point Conception to the border, and out 60 miles, because of strong northwest winds up to 25 knots with 4-foot seas.