Los Angeles is in for a beautiful Wednesday — sunny skies and a high near 81°F make today the warmest and brightest day of the week, so step outside and enjoy it while it lasts. The National Weather Service says light offshore flow this morning is keeping conditions clear and temperatures running about 10 degrees above normal for late May. A shift back to cool, cloudy May Grey arrives by the weekend.
Today’s Setup
Coastal communities from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach will see upper 70s to mid-80s, while the San Fernando Valley and inland areas push closer to 90°F. Winds are calm and gentle — 0 to 10 mph out of the south-southwest — meaning there’s no real sea breeze to rescue the valleys from the warmth today. By tonight, partly cloudy skies return near the coast with a low around 60°F.
Best Window To Be Outside
All morning and midday. Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon trails will be at their peak before noon. Golfers, this is a rare windless, sun-drenched LA day — and we spotted a great deal on a UPF 50+ Fishing Shirt for just $6.50 that doubles as smart sun protection on the course or the trail. The Los Angeles weather forecast doesn’t get much cleaner than this for late May.
Allergy Watch
Warm temps and calm winds are a double-edged sword: pollen lingers near the surface when the air isn’t moving. Tree and grass pollen will be elevated today, especially across the valleys and foothills. An allergy relief nasal spray before heading out will help, and running a HEPA air purifier indoors when you return is a smart call. If you’re hiking or doing yard work, a pollen count face mask is worth having.
Tonight’s Events
The evening lineup is packed. The Florence + The Machine Everybody Scream Tour hits the Kia Forum in Inglewood tonight — expect a comfortable 60°F with calm winds at showtime, ideal outdoor-venue weather. Snag a Florence + The Machine t-shirt for the crowd, and Find tickets on StubHub if you still need seats. Angel City FC also hosts Kansas City Current at BMO Stadium tonight under those same clear, mild skies.
Looking to Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels face the Athletics at Angel Stadium on May 21 — still warm near 81°F at first pitch, but the National Weather Service flags increasing onshore flow by evening, so low clouds are possible late. Dress in layers and rep your team with a Los Angeles Angels jersey and Los Angeles Angels fitted cap. Get tickets on SeatGeek before the series sells out.
For May 23, the Bright Eyes show at the Hollywood Bowl could see coastal clouds rolling in as May Grey strengthens — check our full event weather preview for what to expect at the Bowl that night.
Dinner Tonight
A warm, sunny evening calls for something light and fresh — pasta tossed with olive oil, garlic, and whatever vegetables look good is an easy win tonight. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Thursday (May 21) stays sunny and near 81°F, but it’s also the turning point. The National Weather Service says onshore flow strengthens Friday, dropping temperatures 4 to 8 degrees below today’s peak. Coastal neighborhoods will wake up to low clouds by Friday morning — classic May Grey arriving right on schedule — while valleys return to near-normal temps. The outdoor gear deals page has you covered if you need layers for the cooler weekend ahead. No rain is in the forecast through the extended period, just the familiar seasonal shift toward June Gloom arriving a little early.
