A Very Slow Warm-Up
AIR QUALITY (PM2.5 AQI as of 7:30AM)
Unhealthy for sensitive groups in Big Sur.
Good to Moderate for all other reporting areas.
High pressure slowly strengthens builds in from the northwest over the next few days. As it settles in over our region late this week, it will begin to strengthen and compress our marine layer. This will all lead to a slow warm-up for all areas—perhaps a little bit more notably inland until this weekend. Holiday weekend temperatures will likely range 10-15ºF (or perhaps more) above normal. In the meantime, expect the normal cycle of low clouds and onshore winds for the next few days. You can also continue to expect hazy to smoky skies at times with occasionally reduced air quality.
Tuesday: Becoming partly cloudy on the coast with clouds focused a bit more on the north/east sides of the bay. Highs in the 60s to low 70s. After morning valley clouds, inland areas will see sunny but smoky conditions with highs in the mid-70s to around 100ºF and afternoon valley winds.
Overnight: Low clouds will fill coastal areas and major inland valleys. Patchy fog and drizzle possible. Expect coastal lows in the mid-50s with upper 40s to upper 50s inland.
Wednesday: Becoming partly cloudy on the coast with highs in the 60s to low 70s. After morning valley clouds, inland areas will see sunny but smoky conditions with highs in the mid-70s to around 102ºF and afternoon valley winds.
Extended: Temperatures will continue to slowly warm through Friday, then jump up much higher this weekend. Coastal clouds will be on a slow decrease as well and may only remain in a very limited fashion Saturday-Monday.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 54ºF
HIGH: 72ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 51ºF
HIGH: 86ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for September 8th – 14th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. Note: Little to no precipitation typically falls this time of year.
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
-Forecast into Winter: La Niña Watch
-Area drought status: Moderate drought for much of Santa Cruz & Santa Clara Counties, Abnormally dry on the east shore of the bay into San Benito County. No drought classification for much of Monterey County outside of the Gabilan Range.
