Cold temps Thursday morning in SoCal; strong winds this afternoon

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11 / CNS) - Southland temperatures again fell to frigid levels Thursday morning.

A frost advisory issued by the National Weather Service was scheduled to be in effect until 9 a.m. in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, indicating pets should be brought indoors and sensitive plants covered. Early morning temperatures will be in the lower to mid-30s, according to the National Weather Service.

In the Antelope Valley, a wind advisory indicating 35-mile-per-hour winds or gusts will be in effect from 10 this morning until 10 this evening. During that time, winds will blow at between 20 and 35 mph, gusting to 50 mph this afternoon, forecasters said, adding that gusty winds could linger in the
Antelope Valley until Friday night.

Gusty crosswinds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists operating high profile vehicles, forecasters said. Gusty winds will affect travel on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and Pearblossom (138) Highway, they said, adding that areas of blowing dust could suddenly and dangerously reduce
visibility to near zero. Partly cloudy skies were forecast in L.A. County today, along with highs of 44 degrees on Mount Wilson; 54 in Palmdale; 55 in Lancaster; 56 in Saugus; 58 in San Gabriel; 59 in Avalon and Pasadena; 60 in Long Beach and Woodland Hills; 61 in Burbank; 62 in Downtown L.A.; and 63 at LAX. L.A. County temperatures will remain no higher than the mid 60s through Wednesday.

Partly cloudy skies were forecast in Orange County today, along with highs of 57 in San Clemente; 58 in Mission Viejo; 59 in Newport Beach; 60 in Laguna Beach and Yorba Linda; 61 in Fullerton and Irvine; and 62 in Anaheim. Temperatures will remain about the same through at least Wednesday, although amid showers on Tuesday, according to an NWS forecast.

Off the Southland coast, a small craft advisory warning of hazardous conditions -- especially for small vessels skippered by inexperienced sailors -- will be in effect from 2 p.m. today to 8 p.m. Friday amid winds of between 21 and 33 knots.