Sunny, Mild, Dry for Days

WEATHER STORY

High pressure will rule the weather on the West Coast for the next week! However, the general offshore flow we've been experiencing will shift slightly more onshore as we head into the workweek, cooling temperatures a bit. Rain will remain a memory until the ridge breaks down.

Air Quality: GOOD to MODERATE --may be locally worse near the Colorado Fire

Colorado Fire Weather Forecast: Lighter winds today, but they will be northerly and dry for the higher elevations of the fire area with moist, northwesterly winds in the lower elevations. It could be occasionally gusty at any elevation late in the afternoon which may cause brief flare-ups. Any smoke from the fire will push south along the coast, especially during the afternoon hours and into Monday. Deeper northwesterly onshore winds expected on Monday which will carry higher moisture levels to the higher elevations.

*Beach Hazards Statement from the National Weather Service*

...Sunday 1pm to Monday 1pm.

• Risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents.
• Northwest swell of 3 to 6 feet at 17 to 20 seconds
• Coastal North Bay, including Point Reyes National  Seashore, Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, San Francisco and Northern Monterey Bay.
• Long lulls are typical between hazardous sneakers waves and the ocean may appear relatively calm for up to 30 minutes between larger waves.

Rest of Sunday: Plenty of sunshine for the entire Central Coast, possible to see a few high passing clouds. By the afternoon expect another round of 60s, sprinkled with a 70s.

Overnight: Clear and mild. Chilly lows, mostly 40s along the coast. Low 40s to 30s inland, with a few 20s for interior valley locations. The coolest locations could see areas of patchy frost.

Monday: Temperatures will cool slightly, as a weak upper low moves into our region and winds shift back onshore. Highs will still be seasonable. Mostly 60s and sunny.
 
Extended: Sunny, mild, and dry for the next week. The beginning of the week will cool slightly, with a chance to see a few more clouds. The ridge of high pressure will build back in by mid-week, warming temperatures back up. Watching a weak system heading into the weekend. As of now, rain chances look slim, if any. The better chance of possible showers could arrive the first week of February.

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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 62ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 38ºF
HIGH: 62ºF

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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 30^th – February 5^th calls for the likelihood of NEAR NORMAL temperatures and ABOVE precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast into Winter: Weak La Niña

-Area drought status: “Severe Drought” for most of the viewing area southern Monterey County now reduced to “Moderate Drought”