Strong winds are expected tonight after showers dampen the area and high surf crashes on Ventura and L.A. County beaches.

A major pattern change is expected to begin late this weekend with a potential for copious amounts of rain next week.

A frontal system arrived in the area Wednesday morning, bringing with it light showers. Gusty southwest to west winds will affect the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties as well as the Antelope Valley and wind advisories are in effect.

Winds are expected to shift to the northwest and north and increase tonight, with damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH possible tonight and Thursday morning in the Santa Clarita Valley, as well as the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties and the Santa Monica Mountain ranges.

Gusty northwest winds will likely also affect the San Fernando Valley enough to require wind advisories.

Large surf will affect all west-facing beaches through early Friday, with surf heights of 15 to 20 feet north of Point Conception with local sets to 25 feet, and 8 to 12 feet across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties with local sets to 17 feet.

The large surf combined with high astronomical tides may cause some coastal flooding in low-lying beach areas Thursday morning.

Significant rainfall is expected beginning late Sunday, with a potential of 3 to 6 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas and 6 to 12 inches in foothills and mountains, which could also trigger flash flooding in recent burn areas.