California Shifts to Cooler Weather, Rain This Week

Southern California and the Bay Area are bracing for a shift from recent unseasonably warm weather to cooler temperatures and the potential for widespread rain later this week, forecasters announced Monday.

The change comes after a hot stretch in March and early April that brought record-breaking highs, Santa Ana winds and elevated fire risks across much of the state. Starting Tuesday, a weak upper-level trough will increase onshore flow, leading to noticeable cooling in coastal and valley areas, according to the National Weather Service. High temperatures are expected to drop 3 to 6 degrees region-wide, with beach communities seeing declines of up to 10 degrees. Inland valleys and deserts will remain relatively mild, with highs in the 70s and 80s through midweek.

A brief warmup is forecast for Wednesday, potentially the warmest day of the week, before a stronger storm system arrives Thursday. This system will usher in sustained cooler conditions through the weekend, with highs falling into the 60s and low 70s in many areas, and even lower in mountains and higher elevations. "We're expecting a change in the pattern. It's going to be pretty substantial," said National Weather...