Cool Friday, Slightly Warmer Weekend
Air Quality Report (As of 7:00AM)
All reporting stations good.
A Pacific weather system will approach the coast as we end the week. It will separate into a cut-off low which will veer off to our south while the parent trough passes by to our north. No rain is expected locally as the system passes by, though the increased marine layer may produce some drizzle. High pressure will then rapidly build in behind it with gusty winds on Sunday and offshore flow continuing for most of next week. Temperatures will head back above normal by Monday and remain there for the rest of the week—along with sunny and very dry conditions. It seems likely that fires to our north and east will continue burning next week and thus, smoke will likely return to our skies as well.
Overnight: Widespread low clouds—pushing deeper into inland valleys. Patchy drizzle possible. Expect coastal lows in the mid-50s with upper 40s to low 50s inland.
Friday: Breaking to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Slightly warmer on the coast with 60s to low 70s but continued cool inland with mainly 70s to low 80s. A bit breezy for inland valleys in the afternoon. Low clouds redevelop and thicken late.
Saturday: Low clouds with patchy drizzle in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. A touch warmer, but still a bit cool for this time of year with coastal highs in the 60s to low 70s and mainly 70s to low 80s inland. Becoming breezy late, especially over the hills.
Extended: Temperatures will begin their swing upward on Sunday as high pressure builds in. Offshore winds may be gusty at times, especially over the hills. Flow will decrease but will remain lightly offshore for most of the rest of the week. Temperatures will remain above normal for most of next week. It is also likely that smoke will present for most of next week too.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 52ºF
HIGH: 71ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 48ºF
HIGH: 83ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for October 16th – 22nd calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation.
-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.
