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temperatures average 80 degrees during the summer, and only dip to the mid-60s
in winter. Evening temperatures seldom fall below 50 degrees year-round. About
10 inches of winter rain falls annually.
There is a consistent, heavy marine layer, sometimes lasting
from mid-May through August. This is known as "June
Gloom' and fog is another challenge to the
coastal skipper and occurs when the air flows from the ocean onshore as a high
pressure area lies off the coast and a low pressure area is over the California
and Nevada inland deserts. As cool moisture is picked up from the ocean,
the warmer air at the higher levels sinks, creating an inversion layer,
trapping and condensing the moist air into fog and is particularly heavy
during the night and early morning hours until the sun has warmed the low
air and "melts" the fog. The infamous "Catalina Eddy" is not a local
at Luau Larry's. It is a result of a Pacific High that bends the air flow
along the coast south of Point Conception a full 90 degrees south of Catalina
Island and can make for a great ride home. Eddy takes a vacation in the
winter, but can usually visit anytime during the rest of the year.
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