Cool & Breezy
Air Quality Report (As of 8:00AM)
All reporting stations are good to moderate
Cool, breezy conditions will continue over the next couple of days as the weather pattern remains progressive. The next weather system arrives on Wednesday morning, brining wind & clouds. There is also a slight chance of showers, but more likely drizzle on Wednesday AM. High pressure builds in through the weekend, sending dryer air our way. This will have a couple of impacts. Lows will get colder and highs warmer with considerable daily spreads.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a few low clouds possible on the coast late. Slightly cool, with coastal highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s and low to mid-60s for inland valleys. Breezy for inland valleys in the afternoon, then winds picking up on the exposed coast late.
Overnight: Morning fog and drizzle chances. Slightly warmer, with coastal lows in the 40s and 30s inland. Breezy northerly winds over the ridgetops.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy early with a few sprinkles, then becoming partly cloudy. Cool, with highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Winds could get gusty in the afternoon, especially along the exposed coast.
From the National Weather Service in Monterey…
**HIGH SURF ADVISORY**
… for the south side of Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast from 6AM Wednesday until noon Thursday.
Breaking waves and coastal run-up Wednesday into Thanksgiving...
An approaching storm system will generate a large northwest swell train that will arrive early Wednesday and persist to at least noon on Thanksgiving Day. Long period forerunners will arrive as early as Tuesday night and may result in infrequent sneaker waves and stronger rip currents through at least sunrise Wednesday preceding the high surf. Then, swell heights will build to 14 to 16 feet at 16 to 19 seconds through the day Wednesday which will result in large breaking waves of 18 to 24 feet, largest on northwest facing beaches. Brisk northwest winds will be at the back of these northwest waves and lead to enhanced coastal run-up that can shift the shoreline farther inland than individuals are accustomed to, and in some cases at shallow northwest beaches, envelop most of or all of the beach. In addition, enhanced coastal erosion of the summer beach profiles will continue in earnest with this large swell. Anomalously cool water temperatures and turbulent, unpredictable seas will lead to hazardous conditions along the coast. It is recommended that individuals stay off rocks and coastal jetties if visiting the coastline and remain vigilant of their surroundings until a safe distance from the coast.
WAVES AND SURF: Large breaking waves 18 to 24 feet along northwest facing coastlines.
TIMING: 6 AM Wednesday to Noon on Thanksgiving (Thursday). Long period forerunners will arrive Tuesday Night into Wednesday morning. Swell subsides late Thursday.
Large breaking waves in the surf zone and on beaches. These large waves can be erratic and unpredictable and may injure or knock beachgoers into the cold, turbulent ocean. Strong winds at the back of these large breaking waves will enhance coastal run-up on beaches and increase coastal erosion, especially at northwest beaches.
A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing large breaking waves, rip currents, localized beach erosion and sneaker waves.
Extended: Cool, breezy conditions continue into Thanksgiving with patchy fog possible in the morning. Then, lows will bottom out in the 30s for most spots Friday, while highs will return to above normal levels. We’ll remain that way through the weekend.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 44ºF
HIGH: 62ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 38ºF
HIGH: 65ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 1st - 7th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation.
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Weak La Niña
-Forecast into Winter: La Niña Advisory
-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.
