On And Off Rain
AIR QUALITY:
GOOD for all reporting stations
WEATHER STORY
Unsettled weather has returned. A stalled frontal boundary will keep the rain machine going, especially in the coastal mountains overnight. A reinforcing cold front will then swing through on Thursday which could lead moderate to briefly heavy rains before some clearing on Friday. Additional systems will follow through the holiday weekend with subsequently colder air masses. The first will arrive late Saturday into Sunday with another one on Monday. Snow levels will lower enough for our mountains to see another round of wintery precipitation. Some of the details are still to be hammered out, so stay tuned to the forecast.
Overnight: Mostly cloudy with periods of light to briefly moderate rain, focused in the coastal mountains and generally more-so in the south. Activity will begin to pick up across the entire viewing area toward down as a disturbance rolls through. Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Breezy at times.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy with rounds of moderate rain. Brief heavy rain possible along with the potential for an isolated thunderstorm. Gusty southerly winds at times, especially late. Highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Friday: A few showers linger with under partly cloudy skies. A weak front will pass by late which could have a bit of light rain and brief winds with it. Cooler, with highs in the 50s. Breezy at times.
Extended: Rain returns later in the day on Christmas as the next weather system comes through. It will bring light to moderate rain along with breezy conditions and should clear out by mid-day on Sunday. Another system will arrive on Monday followed by another on Wednesday. Lower snow levels may mean snow for area mountains.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 30th – January 5th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast into Winter: Weak La Niña
-Area drought status: “Extreme Drought” for the entire viewing area with the far southeastern corner of Monterey County and far eastern San Benito County considered “Exceptional Drought”
