High Wind in California, January 8 to 11, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
1005 AM PST Thu Jan 8 2026

.SYNOPSIS...08/949 AM.

A significant northerly wind event will occur today. The winds
will be strongest across the mountains but gusty conditions will
extend across the coasts and valleys, particularly of Los Angeles
County. This evening winds will shift and a moderate to strong
Santa Ana Wind event will develop. The Santa Ana will peak on
Friday and Saturday, bringing warmer temperatures.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TDY-SAT)...08/1003 AM.

***UPDATE***

A storm system taking an "inside slider" track through Nevada is
creating a strong northerly push through interior California.
There is also a little embedded moisture with it that is
generating some light upslope showers across the northern portion
of the Grapevine near the border with Kern County. Temperatures
are chilly but so far mostly above freezing at road level on
Interstate 5 and likely to remain that way today. Could get an
inch or so of accumulation above around 5000 feet this morning in
that area.

Otherwise, the main story today and into the weekend is the wind.
It's exclusively a northerly event today, focusing in the
mountains with gusts in the 60s or locally higher, but then also
a corridor of gusty but lighter winds through the San Fernando
Valley and even into the LA Basin and eastern Santa Monica
Mountains as well as southern Santa Barbara County.

The shift to a Santa Ana wind event will begin tonight, which will
mean little to no wind in the LA Basin and Santa Barbara County
but increasing wind in the Ventura County coast and valleys.

***From Previous Discussion***

A fairly dry trof is in the process of moving across the southern
half of the state. The only risk of precipitation with this trof
will be across the north facing mountain slopes where upslope flow
will wring all of the moisture out of the air and create plenty of
clouds as well as a chance of showers. Snow levels will be around
4000 ft and 1 to 3 inches of snow is possible above 5000 feet. A
dusting of snow is possible as low as 4000 feet. Motorists
traveling over the Tejon Pass may see some flurries this morning
and afternoon. The only other clouds this morning will be over the
Cuyama Vly and Central Coast.

The most important affect of the trof's passage will be the large
amount of cold air advection that will add dramatically to the
northerly winds. High Wind Warnings are in effect for most
mountain areas and the Antelope Valley through this evening with
wind gusts of 50-65 mph. Wind Advisories cover most of the rest of
SBA/VTA/LA counties with only western VTA county excluded. There
is a small chance of mountain wave activity over the csts/vlys.
If a mtn wave touches the ground it will bring a sudden burst of
very strong winds. The time of maximum cold air advection and
winds will occur late this morning, which is different than the
typical early morning timing. For all of the wind details, please
see the product LAXNPWLOX.

One big item of note: Due to all the recent rains, there is a
greater risk of downed trees and powerlines with the winds.

Tonight a cold dome of sfc high pressure will build over NV and
the offshore push from the east will rapidly increase. This will
quickly shift the north winds to the northeast and a classic
winter time long duration Santa Ana wind event will kick off.
This will be a moderate Santa Ana with offshore gradients from 4
to 7 mb. There will be warning level gusts in the mtns (including
the Santa Susanas and western Santa Monicas). Strong advisory
gusts will also occur across the rest of the typical Santa Ana
wind corridor. There will be a temporary lull in the winds Friday
afternoon but similar winds will redevelop Saturday morning.
While these kinds of Santa Ana winds usually come with some fire
danger that is not the cast this time due to the many recent
rains.

The very cold air advecting into the area will overwhelm the
typical downslope warming associated with Santa Anas. Max temps
today will actually drop 3 to 6 degrees and up in the upper 50s
and lower 60s across all csts/vlys (5 to 10 degrees blo normal).
Most of the cool air advection will shut off on Saturday and most
areas will see 3 to 6 degrees of warming.

Wind sheltered areas will see very cold early morning lows Friday
and Saturday mornings. Many far interior areas will see lows from
28 to 32 degrees and some portions of the Antelope Valley are
forecast to fall into the upper teens. A Freeze Watch has been
issued for Friday morning for several areas(including the Ojai
Vly) that are sensitive to the cold. Frost or freeze products may
also be needed for Friday night into Saturday morning, as cold
overnight conditions will continue.

The product LAXNPWLOX contains details not only about all of the
winds, but also information about the freezing temperatures.

.LONG TERM (SUN-WED)...08/1224 AM.

Very benign weather is very likely for the Sun-Wed xtnd period.
The state will be under either a ridge or an upper high. Hgts will
slowly rise from 582 dam to around 585 dam by Wednesday.
Wednesday's hgts will be about 15 dam higher than normal. At the
sfc there will be 3 to 4 mbs of offshore flow from both the N and
the E through the period.

The high pressure aloft will keep the mid and high clouds away and
the offshore flow will keep any low clouds from forming so skies
will be mostly clear through the period.

There will be Santa Ana winds each morning, but with no upper
support and not overly strong offshore flow the winds will come in
under advisory levels.

The dry air and clear skies will allow for good overnight cooling.
The cooling may be mitigated some by the warming airmass. The
current low temperature forecasts may be a little too warm for the
interior areas.

Max temps will be the main talking point. Sunny skies, offshore
flow and a warming airmass will all contribute to a 4 day warming
trend. Look for 3 to 6 degrees of warming Sunday; 2 to 4 degrees
both Mon and Tue; and 1 to 2 degrees on Wednesday. Most max temps
will be 1 to 3 degrees over normal on Sunday increasing to 4 to 8
locally 10 degrees on Wednesday. The warmest vly locations will
flirt with 80 degrees on Wednesday.

Both the ensemble's and AI forecasts show no significant chance
for precipitation until the 17th-20th of the month.

&&

.AVIATION...08/1649Z.

At 1630Z at KLAX, there was no marine inversion.

For 18Z TAF package, high confidence in VFR conditions for all
sites through the period. Moderate confidence in wind forecasts as
speeds could be +/- 5 kt of current forecasts.

Strong northerly flow will continue through this evening then will
shift to the northeast overnight. Moderate to strong LLWS and
turbulence is likely across the foothills and mountains with a
chance across terminals south of Point Conception.

KLAX...for 18Z TAF, high confidence in VFR conditions through the
period. Strength of northwesterly winds through this evening could
be +/- 5 knots of current forecasts. After 14Z, there is a 30%
chance of easterly winds greater than 8 knots.

KBUR...for 18Z TAF, high confidence in VFR conditions through the
period. Winds could be +/- 5 knots of current forecasts.

&&

.MARINE...08/849 AM.

Moderate-to-high confidence in the current forecast. Slightly
higher confidence exists in winds. Less confidence exists in the
seas forecast through the period.

Gale force northwesterly winds will continue across the Outer
Waters through this evening, but the Gale force winds across the
western half of the Santa Barbara Channel will diminish to Small
Craft Advisory (SCA) levels this morning. SCA level northwest
winds will continue across the remainder of the coastal waters
through this evening. SCA level seas will continue across the
Outer Waters and the Inner Waters off the Central Coast.

Overnight tonight, the winds will shift to the northeast. SCA
level NE winds will be likely (50-70 percent chance) through
Friday morning nearshore and linger each night and morning through
the weekend. The strongest winds will be focused between Pismo
Beach north to Point Piedras Blancas along the Central Coast, from
Rincon Point south to Point Mugu and east to Pacific Palisades,
and through the San Pedro Channel. The highest chances will be
focused from Rincon Point south to Point Mugu and east to Pacific
Palisades. There is a moderate to high (30-50 percent) chance of
Gales late tonight through Friday morning.

&&

.BEACHES...08/245 AM.

A large northwest swell will continue build across the coastal
waters today, before diminishing through Friday and Friday night.
This swell is expected to generate high surf conditions along the
Central Coast with surf heights peaking in the 10-15 foot range.
For the beaches of Ventura and Los Angeles county, elevated surf
conditions of 3-6 feet with local sets to 7 feet are expected.
This surf conditions will generate dangerous rip currents along
the beaches.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY remains in effect for the Central Coast and
a BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT remains in effect for the Ventura and
Los Angeles County beaches. The statements are in effect from
early Thursday morning through Friday evening.

&&

.LOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Freeze Watch remains in effect from late tonight through
      Friday morning for zones 38-348-357-381-382. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     Beach Hazards Statement in effect through Friday evening for
      zones 87-354-362-366. (See LAXCFWLOX).
     Wind Advisory remains in effect until 1 PM PST Saturday for
      zones 88-362-370>372-374. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     High Surf Advisory in effect until 9 PM PST Friday for zones
      340-346. (See LAXCFWLOX).
     Wind Advisory remains in effect until 9 PM PST this evening
      for zones 346>349-351. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     Wind Advisory remains in effect until 8 PM PST this evening
      for zones 350-356-366>368-373-548. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     High Wind Warning remains in effect until 8 PM PST this
      evening for zones 352-353-376>378-381-383. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     Wind Advisory in effect from 10 PM this evening to 7 AM PST
      Friday for zones 354-355. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     High Wind Warning in effect from 10 PM this evening to 3 PM
      PST Friday for zone 369. (See LAXNPWLOX).
     High Wind Warning remains in effect until 1 PM PST Saturday
      for zones 375-379-380. (See LAXNPWLOX).
PZ...Small Craft Advisory in effect until 3 PM PST Friday for zone
      645. (See LAXMWWLOX).
     Small Craft Advisory in effect until 9 PM PST this evening
      for zone 650. (See LAXMWWLOX).
     Small Craft Advisory in effect until noon PST Saturday for
      zone 655. (See LAXMWWLOX).
     Gale Warning in effect until 7 PM PST this evening for zone
      670. (See LAXMWWLOX).
     Gale Warning in effect until 9 PM PST this evening for zones
      673-676. (See LAXMWWLOX).

&&

PUBLIC...MW/Rorke
AVIATION...RAT
MARINE...Hall/RAT
BEACHES...Hall
SYNOPSIS...Schoenfeld

weather.gov/losangeles

Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=lox

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
543 AM PST Thu Jan 8 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0513 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 31 W Two Harbors        33.49N 119.03W
01/08/2026  M58 MPH          Santa Barbara      CA   Mesonet

            Mesonet station SBIC1 Santa Barbara Island
            RAWS.

&&

Hall

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
609 AM PST Thu Jan 8 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 AM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 27 WSW Port Hueneme     34.00N 119.64W
01/08/2026  M58 MPH          Santa Barbara      CA   Mesonet

            Mesonet station XCRZ Santa Cruz Island
            Central.

&&

Hall