Skies will remain mostly cloudy overnight, but clouds will clear quickly on Thursday, giving way to plenty of sunshine and a notable warm-up. By the end of the week, conditions will feel decidedly spring-like, with temperatures running about 7 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit above seasonal averages.

The warming trend will be driven by a strengthening high-pressure system over the West, combined with weak to moderate Santa Ana winds. East and northeast winds of 20 to 45 mph are expected across inland areas and the mountains, with isolated stronger gusts in wind-prone locations, particularly from Thursday through Saturday and peaking on Friday. Dry conditions will prevail, with humidity levels dropping to between 10% and 25%.

Daily Forecast:

• Friday:
  Mostly sunny and much warmer than normal for this time of year. High temperatures are expected to range from the mid-70s to mid-80s°F across coastal and inland areas, with dry air and noticeable Santa Ana winds inland and in the mountains.

• Saturday:
  Warm and dry conditions continue under mostly sunny skies. Highs will remain elevated, reaching the low-70s to low-80s°F across much of the county. Moderate east to northeast winds will persist but begin to ease by evening.

• Sunday:
  The sea breeze returns, bringing a slight cooldown and gradually increasing humidity. Even so, the day will remain pleasant, with highs between the upper-60s and upper-70s°F and mostly sunny conditions.

While early next week will be cooler, temperatures are still expected to remain up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit above average. There is also the potential for a moderate to strong Santa Ana wind event by mid to late next week.

As for rainfall, there are early that rain could arrive around mid-February, near the 10th, though confidence remains low due to the extended outlook.

Expected High Temperatures for Thursday:

• Coast: 70–79°F
• Inland areas: 77–84°F
• Mountains: 55–72°F
• Deserts: 77–81°F