A Mostly Sunny, Mild Monday
Here’s a look at your forecast for Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties!
Stormy weather returns once again, but we still have a day to prepare. In the meantime, a cold air mass remains in place, making for a frosty start to Monday. We’ll warm up a bit on Monday afternoon, but highs will remain below normal. Clouds will be on the increase ahead of the next storm system. Its cold front will arrive early in the day on Tuesday bringing gusty winds and moderate rains. Rounds of showers will follow through Wednesday with a slight chance of thunderstorms. The air mass behind the front will be cold, so snow levels may dip down as low as 3kft. A few final showers may pop up over the hills Thursday before drier weather returns into the weekend. Temps will slowly creep up as well, but will remain below normal. Another weak weather system look to arrive around Sunday, but strength and timing are still a bit up in the air.
AIR QUALITY: Good
Monday: Cold in the morning under mostly clear skies, then increasing clouds. Slightly warmer with highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Overnight: Increasing clouds with slightly warmer lows mainly in the 40s. Winds fairly light out of the south. A few sprinkles possible before sunrise.
***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters of Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties including Monterey Bay from 3AM Tuesday until 3pm Tuesday.
-South winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to45 kt expected off Santa Cruz County
-South winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt expected for Monterey Bay
-Southeast winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt expected off Monterey County
*Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.
**WIND ADVISORY**
… for the coast and coastal mountains of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties and the Santa Cruz Mountains into Santa Clara County including Eastern Santa Clara Hills.
*in effect 5am – 2pm Tuesday.
*South winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45- 55 mph expected.
*Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
* Strongest winds are expected for coastal areas, but strong wind gusts can funnel through the city. Wind gusts between 30 to 40 mph are expected with parts of the coast reaching up to 45 mph. The higher elevations of the East Bay Hills and Eastern Santa Clara Hills. Localized areas of higher terrain could see gusts greater than 55 mph.
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Tuesday: Increasing southerly winds in the early morning with rain arriving around the Monterey Bay by dawn. Moderate rain with gusty winds will move across the Monterey Bay Area through around lunchtime before moving south and out of our area late. Showers and breezy conditions persist after. Highs in the 50s.
Extended: Showers and thunderstorms likely Wednesday as the upper level low moves down the coast. A few final showers pop up over the hills Thursday afternoon. Temps remain chilly. We’ll warm up a bit with dry conditions expected Fri/Sat. Watching another wet weather system around Sunday, however. Though it doesn’t look all that strong at this juncture.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 69ºF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for April 3rd – 9th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
- Forecast: Neutral through the summer with eventual development of El Niño
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free.
