Sunshine & Warmth Wednesday
Temperatures will continue to warm over the next two days as high pressure strengthens to our west. Our initially gusty northwesterly winds will become more northerly by Wednesday and ease into Thursday. This general offshore flow will allow for significant warming, even close to the coast. Highs return to above normal across the board Wednesday and will be well above on Thursday. Temps will keep heading upward inland through Saturday, though low level onshore flow may begin to cool coastal areas as early as Friday. The toughest part of the forecast will be determining strength and depth of the onshore flow on the coast as it would mean for huge differences in the forecast. Eventually, the marine layer should win out which would bring cooler, cloudier weather to the coast. Right now, I have that developing on Sunday, but it could come earlier! Stay tuned.
AIR QUALITY: Good
Wednesday: Almost wall-to-wall sunshine. Warmer, with highs in the mid 60s to upper 70s on the coast—warmest on the north side of the bay where downsloping winds will be occurring—and widespread 70s to low 80s inland. Gusty north-northwesterly onshore and up-valley winds late in the day.
Overnight: Clear conditions for most locations, patchy low clouds possible near the southern portion of the bay and patchy fog for low, damp areas toward dawn. Temperatures will be in 40s, with a few low 50s at the coast and higher elevations.
Thursday: Mostly sunny with a few cumulus over the far inland mountains possible. Warmer yet—if not hot—with highs in the 70s to low 80s on the coast and widespread 80s inland.
Extended: The warming trend will continue inland into the weekend while we hold steady on the coast. There are some indications we may see some convection over the far inland mountains on Friday afternoon--enough—to get an isolated shower or thunderstorm going—but otherwise, expect mostly sunny skies into the weekend. Eventually, low clouds and cooler weather will return to the coast with some cooling inland as well by early next week.
*Note: Any alerts from the National Weather Service in Monterey will be noted in italics above. Alerts may be edited for brevity or local clarification (in parenthesis).
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 49ºF
HIGH: 65ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 45ºF
HIGH: 74ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for May 15th – 21st calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory, La Niña Watch
- ENSO Forecast: Transition from El Niño to neutral by Spring and then to La Niña by summer.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
