Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks marine layer? (Oxnard, Simi Valley: 2013, homes)

[jaynetarzana]

We are considering a move to either Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks with school aged children. I'm wondering if there is fog or marine layer in the area.

[nightlysparrow]

Not much. Westlake is at least 12 miles from the ocean. During the winter there is occasionally some fog in the morning, but it burns off quickly. The fogs from the plains to the north (Camarillo and Oxnard) have to make it over the grade, which often has early fog, even in summer.
"Marine Layer" refers mainly to an overcast day. If it's in the Conejo Valley, it's pretty much everywhere in the County.

[pcw57]

We're in the southern area of Newbury Park up in the hills south of the 101 a few miles. There can sometimes be noticeable differences in climatic conditions between here, Thousand Oaks proper, Westlake Village, and beyond along the 101 eastward (Agoura, Calabasas, etc.).
We might have heavy low clouds (aka Marine Layer) in our neck of the woods, particularly in the early mornings or late afternoons, but then emerge into clear and sunny conditions as we drive over the hill towards the 101 and into T.O. and Westlake.

The Conejo Valley's topography is such that the conditions can vary quite a bit at times, so it's hard to lump it all together when describing the weather there and in adjacent areas.

[jaynetarzana]

Thanks so much for the replies. Microclimates are exactly why I was asking this. Gloom is torture for me so if I can avoid it, I would rather.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I have seen it come into the TO area in the past. I was driving up the grade from Oxnard on my way to LA when I saw the fog heading in just south of the grade. It looked cool as it was heading toward the early morning sunny skies that day. Still, you won't have much of any the further inland that you go.

[pcw57]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

Thanks so much for the replies. Microclimates are exactly why I was asking this. Gloom is torture for me so if I can avoid it, I would rather.

Gloom can be handy at times (gloomy weather, that is).

Coming home from downtown L.A. in the heat of a hot summer afternoon can be interesting. Downtown L.A. will be having ocean breezes blowing through the buildings, cooling off the hot temps. Similar conditions driving the 101 Freeway into and through Hollywood, and through the Cahuenga Pass.

But as you pass Universal Studios and head into Studio City and beyond, through the San Fernando Valley, the heat is oppressive, especially in the Woodland Hills area. Now the temperature indicates 109, as opposed to 83 or something back in downtown L.A.

Then winding through Calabasas and into the Conejo Valley, the temperatures slowly decline, and the marine clouds emerge over Saddle Peak, then Castro Peak, and as you pass through Agoura Hills, the display indicates 96, then it keeps dropping as you enter Westlake Village and then Thousand Oaks.

By the time you reach the 23/101 interchange, it's now 89. And the clouds are thicker and lower as they loom up over and through the Conejo Grade that drops into Camarillo.

At my house, as I pull into the driveway, it'll be around 79 or some such thing. But down in Camarillo, it'll be a pleasant 73. And over in Oxnard and at Point Mugu Naval Air Station (now Naval Base Ventura County), it just might be 68 or something. Unreal...

So, we can't lump the Conejo Valley into one climate pattern. As you mentioned, there are tons of micro-climates lurking about. And I didn't bother to mention Simi Valley or Moorpark, which have their own unique climate patterns.

Bottom line: There are a few choice spots up and down the southern California Coast that have some pretty nice weather. La Jolla comes to mind. Santa Barbara, certainly. And right here. Pretty nice...

Good luck!

[pcw57]

We could really use some marine layer gloom right now, as the Camarillo Springs Fire has burned its way around the western edge of the Dos Vientos development west of Newbury Park and is now in the mountains and hills above Pacific Coast Highway and south of our collective neighborhoods here in the very south end of Newbury Park, adjacent to the western tip of the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area and the Bony Mountain/Sycamore Canyon areas.


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