Rain Ending Overnight, Still Cold!

Shower activity will come to an end late tonight. Gusty northwest winds will continue overnight and taper off Thursday morning as a front moves south of the area. Clearing skies and the sunshine returns for Thursday and Friday. Cold temps remain though and quite possibly another frost alert for Friday morning! Dry conditions are expected through Friday before the next system arrives later Saturday bringing more rain chances. Warm up on the way for next week.

King Tides return Wednesday through Friday. We’ll have some bigger swells on Wednesday into Thursday morning which could increase the chance of coastal flooding, but waves will taper off info Friday. It’s something we’re watching. King tides will create the larger waves and stronger currents thus dangerous swimming conditions.

AIR QUALITY: Good

From the National Weather Service in Monterey (in italics) …
***GALE WARNING***
…for the near coastal waters from Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blanca from 3PM Wednesday until 9AM Thursday

*Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and seas 10 to 14 ft expected.

*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.

Overnight: Showers will gradually end. Breezy nw winds continue. Frost advisories again with lows dipping to freezing temps with a few mid to upper 20s inland spots and cold at coast too with mid 30’s to low 40s.

**FROST ADVISORY**
… in effect from 3am to 10am Thursday for all interior valleys and mountains of Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties.

*Temperatures as cold as 32 degrees and lower will result in frost formation.

* Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

Thursday: Mostly sunny but cool. Gusty northwesterly winds at times. Highs in the 50s.

Extended: Winds will die off late Thursday into Friday, which will likely mean for a frosty morning on Friday, especially for inland areas. Afternoon temperatures will warm slightly and then clouds increase into the weekend as we catch the very edge of a dying atmospheric river which will be impacting areas to our north. At best, we’re likely to see rain late Saturday into Sunday and it will be more likely the farther north you live in the viewing area. Still, I don’t think we’ll see much more than light precipitation. Slightly warmer weather is then expected next week.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 60ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 17^th – 23^rd calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.

- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: Strong to Very Strong El Niño expected this winter.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free