Is SoCal Experiencing 'No Sky July'?
LOS ANGELES, CA — Southern California seems to have lost its sunny disposition this July.The region has looked a bit more like spring than summer for the past several weeks, with gray skies, cool temperatures and a stubborn marine layer hanging on across the region. But as parts of Northern California experience the coldest start to summer in a generation, could the Southland be experiencing a similar phenomenon?According to historical records kept by the Western Regional Climate Center, temperatures in downtown Los Angeles have actually been right on par with long-term averages. As of late July, the city's average maximum temperature for the month is hovering around 84.6 degrees — nearly identical to the historical average dating back to 1877.Still, for many across the normally sunny Southland, this summer has felt gloomier than usual. That’s likely thanks to that persistent marine layer, which has brought extended stretches of morning cloud cover and coastal drizzle — especially in neighborhoods closer to the ocean. While inland areas may eventually reach typical summer highs, the slow warmups and gray starts have made the season feel unusually mild for residents from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.On Thursday, the National Weather Service commented on the gloom."We are in a relatively quiet, cool pattern (compared to normals) with an upper level low NW & plenty of marine layer clouds and fog," the service wrote on X.Over the weekend, Reddit users in the Los Angeles subreddit discussed the July gloom. "Nearly every day we've had some form of gloom and overcast mornings. The daytime temps, at least in WeHo, haven't seemed to go beyond 75F all that much. Early evenings feel cold," user Guerito Aarhus wrote. "I get May Gray/June Gloom, but for nearly being August, this is bizarre. I haven't wanted to go to the beach whatsoever. Anybody else feel the same?"READ MORE: 'No Sky July': The Bay Area Is Experiencing Its Coldest Summer In DecadesWhat followed was a barrage of responses, cheekily condemning the poster's lament."First rule of fight club, you do not talk about how it's only 80 instead of 110," The Wicked Barnacle posted.Bboy818 said: "OP just summoned our worst heat wave yet for the rest of July and August," to which Throwy_throw replied: "I know, you don’t talk about it until AFTER summer is over. Like we’re safe in November and you can mention it."On Tuesday, the National Weather Service's Oxnard station explainedthe gloom and persistent marine layer in the Southland."An onshore flow regime will keep a persistent marine layer depth in place. The marine layer depth will thin some through midweek as an upper-level ridge over the Southeast builds into the FourCorners region. Meanwhile, an upper-level trough of low pressure will serve to keep onshore flow in place and night through morning low clouds and fog in the forecast for most coastal and valleylocations."A cool air mass over the Pacific and a low-pressure system over inland California are working together to tighten the pressure difference across the region, meteorologists said in Tuesday's National Weather Service Forecast Discussion. That’s creating stronger winds from the northwest and keeping the marine layer in place. In some areas, like around Santa Barbara, gusty evening winds — known as Sundowners — are expected each night through Wednesday.As for the rest of the Southland, temperatures seem to be sticking close to seasonal averages. According to data from the Western Regional Climate Center, average maximum temperatures at San Diego International Airport this month have hovered around 76.5 degrees, just slightly below the long-term average of 77.1 degrees.Bay Area Feels Its Coldest Summer In DecadesAcross the state, National Weather Service forecasters have dubbed the month "No Sky July."San Francisco, the city by the Bay, isn’t known for balmy summers — but this year, it’s experiencing its coldest in decades.In fact, the National Weather Service's Bay Area office has dubbed this month "No Sky July.""Another soggy/damp start to the day for the Bay Area and Central Coast with low clouds and drizzle," the service wrote on Sunday.The phenomenon prompted the Los Angeles Times to quote Mark Twain’s famous quip: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”With no warmup in the forecast, Twain's comment feels especially relatable.On Sunday Morning, the National Weather Service said the San Francisco International Airport recorded its coldest start to the summer since 1965.In downtown San Francisco, the weather service measured the city's coldest half of a summer since 1982. Meanwhile, across the Bay Bridge, Oakland is experiencing its coldest summer since 1970 — the coldest on record for the city.And while the summer is off to a chilly start, that doesn't mean the Bay is in the clear for a random weather event that could turn things upside down. After all, San Francisco set its all-time heat record downtown at 106 degrees in 2017. “It’s the end of July," Mehle told the Los Angeles Times. "But summer is not over when you look at our climatology. Some people want slightly warmer temperatures — but you have to be careful what you wish for."The article Is SoCal Experiencing 'No Sky July'? appeared first on Los Angeles, CA Patch.
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