Strong winds were batting around trees and scattering debris in Burbank at noon today, but the weather picture is expected to get even more dramatic in the next few hours. The forecast is for serious winds with gusts up to 40 mph –  as much as  70 mph gusts in the mountains. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory warning that the conditions can make driving hazardous and knock down power lines and poorly rooted trees. Also, a lot of rain is coming.

While we got some sun this morning in B-town — dark clouds are rolling in now. There are reports of raindrops falling in Woodland Hills — the fringe of a powerful storm headed our way. There’s a possibility of thunderstorms and hail from this weather system — and it’s supposed to hang around through much of the weekend.

The rain stopped and the sun came out around noon in Burbank today. The fair weather did not last long. A heavy rain cell unloaded on the hillside area just before 1 p.m.  In addition to the on-again off-again rain, some strong winds are whipping through B-town.

This is only a prelude. A really big storm is expected to roll into the Southland by this weekend, bringing as much as 3-to-6 inches of rain in the foothills. Storm preparations are underway in the local burn areas. Meanwhile, the city of Burbank is offering free sandbags to local residents and businesses, because heavy downpours can cause flooding just about anywhere.

Today Burbank’s Public Information Office sent out a press release with some details about the free sandbags program. A resident can get up to 25 sandbags filled or empty. Pick-up is at the Public Works Field Service Yard at 124 South Lake Street, between Olive and Verdugo Avenues, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information call (818) 238-3800.

Raindrops falling in Burbank tonight. We got a fine mist this morning – now it’s light rain with heavier showers reportedly headed our way over the next few days. There’s rain in the forecast through next Tuesday. Great for the lawn and the flower garden, not so good for commuters out on the slick roads and highways.

Also, cool temperatures tomorrow — a high in the mid-to-upper 50s is predicted for the Media City. Winds are expected to kick up on Wednesday, too. This storm system is dumping snow in the mountains as well.

Winter has returned to the Southland. Bundled up and don’t leave home without that umbrella.

We went from spring-like to sizzling summer temperatures in just a couple of days. The high in Burbank today — 88 degrees. All over B-town folks were out in shorts, sandals, tee shirts — like it was July instead of January.

Tomorrow, the high is expected to be up around 80 in the Media City — but the weather watchers say look out for a cooling trend to take hold by the middle of the week. Also, we could see some gusty winds kicking up on Wednesday and hanging around through Friday. So get ready for another dramatic switch in the weather.

A really warm and sunny  MLK holiday weekend for the Southland. I love it!  The temperatures began to sizzle yesterday, when the high reached 81 in Burbank! In the middle of January — this is how we do winter in SoCal.

By 1 p.m. this afternoon, once again, the temperature cracked the 80 degree mark in the Media City. More of the same is expected on Sunday and Monday. I was out at a gardening shop this morning, and someone referred to the weather as “fake spring.” I know these warm temps and sunny skies are not going to last for long. We’ll soon be back into sweaters, coats, and huddled under umbrellas. I’m okay with that. I plan to enjoy this bout of “fake spring” like it’s the real thing.

UPDATED 12:30 p.m: Monday, January 3rd, 2011

This very cooold storm is slowly moving East, leaving behind clearing skies, some sun, and a few showers here and there in Burbank and the rest of SoCal. As the rain diminishes, the winds are expected to kick up. The weather watchers are predicting winds of 15-to-25 mph with gusts reaching possibly 30 mph this evening and overnight.

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Another frigid weather system is hovering over Burbank and the rest of the Southland today. I was out this afternoon in that cold rain with temperatures in the 40s and it was no fun at all. More rain through tonight, heavy at time. Showers are in the forecast for tomorrow, too.

If you think it’s cold here — in Palmdale, Lancaster, and the Santa Clarita — temperatures are in the low 30s and snow is falling in those places!!!  Snow and black ice are causing problems on some SoCal highways and roads as well. For those holiday revelers driving home — it’s a slow, treacherous ride.

This storm should roll out of here by Tuesday, and then we’ll have partly cloudy skies, some sunshine, and slightly warmer temperatures. No rain in the forecast clear through Saturday — maybe we’ll really get some time to dry out from a series of heavyduty storms.

Another rainstorm rolling through Burbank and the rest of the Southland today. Rain will be falling off and on, sometimes heavy, this morning. Weather watchers are calling this a fast moving storm — saying we should begin to dry out by this afternoon.

 However, a cold and very windy system is hitchhiking on this storm — and it will bring some chilly temps and what they are calling “dangerous” wind conditions.  SoCal is expected to be battered by 50-to-60 mph winds. There is a lot of debris on the ground and its saturated from the recent rains — weakening some of the trees.  The winds will continue whipping around through tomorrow. So beware.

The high in the Media City today, only in the mid-50s.

The still soggy Southland got dumped on by another storm system. A sunny Christmas Day brought out joggers in shorts and tee shirts in the Media City, however, dark clouds rolled in during the late evening bringing rain and gusty winds.

At 8:30 p.m. Christmas night, rain was pounding Burbank and would continue to do so, off and on, for several hours. Early this morning, the storm blew out of the Southland leaving behind cloudy skies and some sunshine. However, we could get a rainstorm repeat by mid-week.  Today’s high in Burbank, 50s to low 60s.

The Mega Millions jackpot is bulging with holiday money — at least $168 million! For weeks now players have been unable to pick all six winning numbers in the Mega Millions game. Same goes for last Tuesday’s draw.  However, four tickets bought in California came pretty close – every winning number except the Mega Ball. Each ticket is worth $195,910.  One of those lucky tickets was purchased right here in the Southland at La Fortuna Market, 824 Lincoln Boulevard in Venice.

 The winning numbers from Tuesday’s draw: 8, 11, 12, 31, 32 and the  Mega Ball 29.  The next Mega Millions draw is tonight at 8 p.m. On this Christmas Eve a whole lot of folks are going to be wishing for six winning numbers.

Your umbrella will probably be your constant companion over the next few days. Rain is in the forecast through next Thursday — which means a whole lot of folks will be scrambling to finish up their holiday shopping under stormy skies.

Weather watchers are saying a series of strong Pacific storms will batter Southern California with winds and periods of heavy rain. In Burbank this morning, raindrops are falling and the winds are kicking up. Also, the temperatures will remain on the chilly side in the Media City. The high today is expected to be in the mid-50s to the low 60s.

Sunny and warm in the Media City today with highs in the mid-70s. Even warmer temperatures are expected later on in the week. Yes, this is what December can feel like in the Southland.  

Meanwhile in Burbank, Illinois today, folks are dealing with high temps in the mid-20s. Tomorrow, they have a 30 percent chance of snow.  Brrrrrr!!!

It’s almost winter and you can still walk around in tee shirts and shorts here. Yippee!  One of the best things about living in SoCal — the weather.

All of a sudden rain is pounding Burbank.  Sure showers were in the forecast, but the weather was mild and sunny for most of the day. Then a cold front rolled into the Southland late this evening. Chilly temperatures tonight, 30s and 40s, in the Media City. Also, along with the showers some 15 to-25 mph winds.  

When I looked outside at the falling rain, I could see the neighbors’ twinkling holiday lights. Not only is it beginning to feel like a SoCal Christmas season, it’s startintg look like it as well. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Stormy skies over the weekend for Burbank and the rest of the Southland, according to the weather watchers. The rain rolled in late last night. This morning, the major freeways were littered with wrecks, toppled vehicles, and pockets of backed-up traffic. 

The forecast is for steady rain, heavy at times, throughout the day and much of the evening. There’s a flash flood watch for the local burn areas and a wind advisory for the mountains, where gusts could reach 60-to-70 mph.

Here in the Media City, riding along with this cold front – some strong winds, 10-20 mph with some 30 mph gusts.  The high today — upper 50s to low 60s.

Luckily, I didn’t open up an umbrella this morning while standing in the driveway or I might have done the Mary Poppins thing.  The weather watchers say we’re getting gusts between 40-60 mph today with winds 20-to-30 mph. The winds felt more powerful than that in my neighborhood.

In Burbank around 7 a.m., the winds were howling and roaring through the hillside area. Seriously, the wind was so strong I huddled close to my house in case I needed to grab a hold of something sturdy. I scrambled to collect my potted plants, some were already scattered around the yard, before they got tossed into the street.

Weather forecasters say the Santa Ana winds are upon us and will be  blowing through SoCal today and tomorrow. Those dry winds are expected to subside a bit later this afternoon — but another round is headed our way — over the weekend and next week. Along with these devil winds come the threat of power outages, increased fire danger, and travel hazards —especially for semi-trucks, SUVs, and campers.

Also, dspite the bright sunshine, it’s nippy outside.  The high in the Media City today — upper 60s to low 70s.

Attorney General Jerry Brown will be moving to the governor’s office very soon. Brown has been declared the winner over his strong Republican and big-money challenger, Meg Whitman, in yesterday’s General Election.

The latest figures from the Secretary of State’s Office give Brown 53.7 percent of the vote and and Whitman 41.3 percent. A check of the statewide voting map shows Whitman won in the most counties — but the counties that Brown carried gave him the most votes.

Democrat/San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, is the next Lieutenant Governor. Newsom received 50.1 percent of the vote, while his nearest challenger, Republican, Abel Maldonado got 39.4 per cent.

Locally, in the 43rd State Assembly District race, Incumbent and Democrat Mike Gatto trounced his Republican opponent, Sunder Ramani, 66.2 percent to 33.8 percent.  

In the U.S. Congressional 27th District, Incumbent and Democrat, Brad Sherman, soundly defeated Repubican contender, Mark Reed, 65.2 percent to 34.8 percent.

In the U.S. Congressional 29th District,  Incumbent and Democrat Adam Shiff held onto his seat with 65.2 percent of the vote. His Republican challenger, John  Colbert won 31.7 percent and Libertarian, William Cushing, got 3.1 percent.

The state measure, Proposition 19, that would have legalized marijuana failed 53.9 percent to 46.1 percent.

These are semi-official results. The counties have until December 3, 2010 to report their final tallies including mail-by-mail and provisional ballots to the Secretary of State’s Office.

For more election results go here.

A blazing hot day on tap for the Media city today. At 10 a.m., it’s already 80 degrees in Burbank. The weather forecast is for a high in the mid-to-upper 90s!  Yes, we’re deep off into fall, but we’re getting another reminder of what a gorgeous summer day feels like in the Southland.

I was out before nine this morning and saw a lot of folks pounding the pavement in the Burbank hillside area, getting their exercise before the temperature rises into the scorching zone. Wise move.

More hot and sunny weather is heading our way tomorrow as well, with a cooling trend expected to kick in by the weekend.

We got some rain early this morning in Burbank and could get more before the day is done. So keep that umbrella nearby. The weather forecast is for cool temperatures in the 60s and overcast skies with some occasional sunshine.  

The rain should be gone by tomorrow. The weather watchers are predicting sunny and dry conditions on Halloween in the Media City and the rest of the Southland.

Dress in layers, caused it could get into the mid-80s today.  At 9 a.m. the temperature in the Media City lingered on the chilly side — upper 50s. Nevertheless, the weather forecast is for at least 80 and perhaps a bit warmer with plenty of sunshine.

Also, those gusty winds are expected to kick up again today. There is a wind advisory through mid-afternoon. We could get winds of 15-50 mph and gusts to 40 mph. On the plus side, clear and beautiful skies. A short while ago,  I was out walking on Glenoaks Boulevard, digging the sunshine and warm temperature.

Meanwhile,  they’re expecting some winds in Rock Springs, Wyoming  as well. The high there today, maybe 36 degrees. That makes me dig living in the Southland even more.

We’re getting sunshine and some gusty winds, along with those cloudy skies  here in Burbank today. It was warm enough, near 70,  to take a stroll through the downtown district around noon; however, I had to hold onto my hat at times to keep the wind from blowing it off.

Weather watchers are predicting strong winds in various parts of the Southland. The National Weather Service has issued high wind warnings for SoCal through tomorrow.

Here in Media City we can expect  20-30 mph winds with some gusts  reaching 45 mph.  The blustery conditions may linger for several days. 

Oh, and don’t put away that umbrella — more rain could be headed our way by the end of the week.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The entrance to the 134 freeway off Central Avenue in Glendale was blocked off for a period due to President Obama's visit, Friday, October, 22, 2010

More than 37, 000 gathered in a park at USC to see and hear President Barack Obama’s rousing get out the vote for the mid-term election speech yesterday. Later in the afternoon, much smaller crowds clustered in Glendale on street corners, in restaurant doorways, wherever they thought they might catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade. Yet, from what I observed, the Glendale crowds were just as thrilled to see the president come to town as the throngs at USC.

In an attempt to avoid the traffic snarls and complaints of the past, President Obama helicoptered to Bob Hope Airport on  board Marine One. Then the president rode in a motorcade to Univision Radio in the 600 block of North Central Avenue, for an interview with Radio Host, Eddie Piolin. The Spanish-language “Piolin Show” is one of the top rated radio programs in the country.

I missed the president’s arrival, but thought I could get a departure shot. However, by the time I found a parking spot on a side street and walked over to the blocked off 134 entrance on North Central Avenue, the presidential limo had made a quick getaway.

When I asked a group, including a man carrying a small child, how was it – I got big smiles and exclamations like, “Great!”  That reaction was echoed by Legal Secretary, Maria Castillo, who told me the crowd went wild when the motorcade approached at 4:03 p.m. : “People immediately started screaming & clapping. Everyone was very excited.  Especially when he waved at the crowd.”

Castillo caught the action in two photos on her cell phone.

Photo: Maria Castillo/Cell Phone Camera -- President Obama's motorcade rolled down North Central Avenue in Glendale and then onto the 134 freeway ramp, Friday, October 22, 2010

Photo: Maria Castillo/ Cell Phone Camera -- President Obama's limo makes a left turn onto the 134 freeway ramp from North Central Avenue in Glendale, Friday, October 22, 2010

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