Cool Weather, Chance of Rain Predicted

Partly cloudy skies and below-normal temperatures are expected through Friday, with a chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters said.

A weak ridge of high pressure will keep Southern California skies free from rain today and Tuesday, with highs in the low to mid-70s throughout the Valley, said Jeff House, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecast information to The Times.

“For the most part, it will be a hazy week and a little bit cooler than normal,” House said.

Morning lows for today are expected to be 51 in Burbank and slightly cooler in Chatsworth, Van Nuys and Woodland Hills.

A storm system from Alaska, the same type that dropped more than an inch of rain in Southern California last week, will arrive Wednesday, bringing a 30% chance of rain through Thursday, House said.

“The system will brush the Southern California area before moving east, but no heavy rain is expected,” House said. “Anything that falls should be sprinkles, with an isolated shower here and there.”

Morning lows Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be in the low 50s, giving way to afternoon highs in the upper 60s and low 70s.

Friday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and warmer afternoon temperatures, ranging from the low to mid-70s. Morning lows Friday are expected to be in the high 40s.