NWS: Expect Strong Winds, High Tides

Overnight and early morning temperatures will plunge into the upper 30s this weekend as a frosty system from the north settles into Los Angeles.

The storm will churn up gusty wind and some scattered showers, but National Weather Service forecasters said the "main impact of the system will be to usher in much colder air across Southwest California."

The best chance of precipitation is Thursday, according to the Weather Service. But it will be on the light side—generally one-tenth of an inch of rain or less, forecasters said.

Gusty north-to-northwest winds will peak Thursday night into Friday morning.

By Thursday and Friday, highs will dip into the upper 40s to lower 50s while mountain temperatures will top out in the 20s and 30s, according to the Weather Service.

The coldest morning of the cold spell will be Saturday, when temperatures will drop to the 20s in many valley areas and single digits in the Antelope Valley, according to an advisory, which warned of "a potential freeze event."

"Temperatures across the coastal valleys are expected to drop into the mid 20s in some areas," forecasters said. "Even locations near the coast will dip into the low to mid 30s."

Along the coast, from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles, high surf and astronomical high tides will cause flooding across beaches and beachside parking lots, according to the Weather Service.

A coastal flood advisory will be in effect from 5 a.m. Thursday to 11 a.m. Saturday, and a high surf advisory will be in effect from noon Thursday until 2 p.m. Saturday.

"High surf can result in dangerous rip currents, beach erosion and sneaker waves," according to the NWS. Waves could reach 6 to 8 feet in height by Thursday afternoon, and rough conditions are expected on west-facing beaches.

These conditions, along with higher-than-usual tides, known as King Tides, may cause minor flooding along some beaches, streets and parking facilities in Los Angeles County.

The last King Tide occurred in early December 2012, and they typically happen two to four times a year. The high tide is predicted at 6.9 feet at 7:20 a.m. on Thursday, 7 feet at 8:10 a.m. on Friday and 6.8 feet at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The next King Tide is expected on Feb. 7.

Californiakingtides.org, a nonprofit, encourages people to upload photos of King Tides and any coastal flooding they may cause. The project is an effort to show what the future may hold for California’s coastline as sea levels could rise as much as 6.6 feet by 2100 because of climate change, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

—City News Service contributed to this report.