A319
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18.83; Flight Crew Total 3066.48; Flight Crew Type 2433.67
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Weather; Human Factors
Tower cleared us for a visual approach while we were at 6;000 feet on a right downwind for Runway 10L. The field was clearly visible; as was the entire area around the field. There were random clouds around and weather was moving in from the southwest. I started my turn inside of abeam [the numbers] of the final approach fix; planning a short approach. I was fully configured as I made my turn to base.While turning to base; we encountered clouds during turn to base and descent from 6;000 [feet] to initially 5;500 feet. I lost visual references for several seconds until I descended out of them. I flew a low base to a short final and landed uneventfully. Storms and random cloud layers were moving quickly onto the field and I believe we may have had self-induced pressure to get the aircraft on deck. We descended until clear of the clouds; leveled off; and drove over to the glide slope and landed.
Pilot reported being on a visual approach; but having to go through clouds.