Colder temperatures, chance of rain return to L.A. area

After a series of heat waves and humidity, Southern California will experience a cool-down that could bring rain early next week.

The region saw triple-digit temperatures early in the week. But the National Weather Service said a low-pressure system is bringing colder-than-normal temperatures.

Officials said the coast and inland temperatures will stay in the 70s Saturday, with some 60-degree readings Sunday.

Sprinkles could occur Monday with showers possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bill Patzert, a climatologist for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, said that summer, fall and spring had on the whole been cooler during the last three years — and that included August and September, two traditionally very warm months.

"Then all of a sudden this August, we had a complete flip-flop," he said. "It's been hot and steamy."

Until August, every month in 2012 except for January had been cooler than normal. August was more than two degrees hotter than average, and September more than three degrees.

--Shelby Grad

Image: National Weather Service