Dennis RomeroIf you've been itching to finally take a dip in the Pacific this summer, this weekend may not be the best time.
The National Weather Service has forecast what is perhaps the worst beach weather of the season so far.
You can thank Dolores for that. This onetime Mexican hurricane has been downgraded to a tropical storm (Donald Trump might have had something to do with that). But its remnants are still going to cross the border and possibly make your weekend hot and wet.
The tropical system could bring rain, lightning and thunderstorms. And if you're at the beach, you can also expect surf high enough that we wouldn't recommend getting in the water unless you're an experienced ocean athlete.
The weather could get so bad at the beaches that the U.S. Coast Guard today issued a weather advisory:
Dolores will move west-northwest well off the southern tip of Baja over the next few days, generating a large south to southeast swell that will impact the southwest California coast starting today. Swell size will gradually increase over the weekend, peaking Sunday into early Monday. The swell is expected to result in surf up to seven feet and may create rip currents.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its own “beach hazards statement” that warns of surf to 8 feet as well as “frequent rip currents, elevated surf and beach erosion.”
Fun for the whole family.
“We strongly urge the public to exercise caution when visiting local beaches over the weekend,” said Chief Petty Officer Joseph J. Nilles of the USCG.
AccuWeather.com says some areas of the region could see a quarter of an inch of rain. AccuWeather meteorologist Rebecca Elliot says, “The heaviest rain will remain to the far east of the city, with flash flooding being a concern in the desert region.”
Credit: NWS
Credit: L.A. County Fire Department/Lifeguards
Bonnie Bartling, a National Weather Service weather specialist based in Oxnard, says the “potential impacts” of the remnants of Dolores include “dangerous lightning, brief heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms, possibly.”
She measures the chance of rain at 25 to 30 percent for the L.A. basin.
All this is expected to happen Saturday through Monday, forecasters said.
Bartling cautioned folks to stay inside if thunder and lightning strike.
She says downtown temps over the weekend should be in the mid-80s, while the coast should see the mid-70s. However, Bartling noted, it will feel warmer because of the humidity brought north by Dolores.
Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow L.A. Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.