High surf and possible rainfall are expected in the Los Angeles area during the holiday week, with weather conditions expected to improve before Christmas.
While there’s a chance of rain Tuesday morning on Christmas Eve, forecasters say it’s likely to be short-lived, with totals around a tenth of an inch or so.
“We’re not going to see any rain by Christmas Day,” said Brian Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Temperatures on Christmas Day will be in the mid-60s, with temperatures in some valleys likely reaching the 70s.
A high surf warning is in effect for the Los Angeles area Tuesday night into early Wednesday, with waves of 8 to 12 feet expected at north- and west-facing beaches. Surf is expected to be highest late Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning.
“With surf like this, we expect very dangerous rip currents and pretty much advise people to stay out of the water,” Lewis said. “But if you’re a surfer and you enjoy the conditions, stay within sight of the lifeguards.”
Lewis said Ventura County could see swells of up to 18 feet Monday night into early Tuesday, with water potentially breaching the Ventura Harbor’s breakwater, causing potential problems for boaters.
Forecasters received reports of waves as high as 8 feet Monday morning at Channel Islands beaches in Ventura County. Even after Christmas, Ventura will still see some advisory-level surf, possibly closer to 10 feet, Lewis said.
“The most important thing now is surfing,” Louis said.
In December, eight people in Ventura were moderately injured when huge waves swept over streets in an area flooded by seawalls. They were among at least a dozen people watching the waves from the seawall.
