California weather remains cool and gray across parts of Los Angeles this afternoon as a stubborn marine layer clings to East L.A. and downtown neighborhoods. Headlights glowed through patchy fog late this morning along Interstate 5 and U.S. 101 while low clouds hovered near the Hollywood Hills. The cooler air feels more like early spring than the edge of summer, especially near the coast and lower valleys.
According to the National Weather Service, patchy fog and low clouds will slowly clear through midday with temperatures climbing toward 73 degrees across downtown Los Angeles. Light southwest winds continue pushing cool Pacific air inland, keeping conditions noticeably cooler than inland desert communities where temperatures are already surging into the 90s.
Memorial Day keeps the marine layer around during the morning before more sunshine develops later in the day. Temperatures hold in the lower 70s through Monday before dipping slightly Tuesday near 69 degrees as another round of low clouds spreads inland. By Wednesday and Thursday, skies brighten again with highs returning to the upper 60s and lower 70s across much of the metro.
Drivers should remain cautious during early-day travel near downtown, Glendale and the San Fernando Valley where visibility can briefly drop under thicker fog pockets. To be fair, conditions improve quickly by early afternoon as sunshine breaks through.
The broader western United States remains warmer and mainly dry through early next week under a strong ridge of high pressure. However, a Pacific system approaching the Northwest later Tuesday may gradually cool portions of the West Coast by midweek.
Long-range outlooks still point toward above-normal temperatures heading into early June, signaling stronger summer warmth likely returning across Southern California later next week.
Five Day Outlook for Los Angeles, California
- Memorial Day: Patchy fog early, then sunny. High near 72.
- Tuesday: Morning fog with partial afternoon sunshine. High near 69.
- Wednesday: Patchy fog early, then mostly sunny. High near 70.
- Thursday: Partly sunny with mild temperatures. High near 68.
- Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High near 71.
