Rain Chances Continue

WEATHER STORY
The active weather pattern continues with a weak weather system glancing past our area tonight. A drizzly light rain has been ongoing across Santa Cruz County for most of the day and will continue into the night with some expansion south and east across the rest of the immediate Monterey Bay area. Not much if anything expected south of there, however. The precipitation will slowly fizzle out into the morning hours with just a few sprinkles remaining by dawn. Once clear, temperatures will warm back to seasonal normal for your Friday afternoon.

The next weather system arrives on Saturday. This system looks well put together with a strong gusty cold front and a good source of moisture. Moderate rain is expected Saturday morning as it passes by. The only thing working against us is how fast it is moving—its speed will preclude any major accumulations. Still, 1”+ totals will be possible in the coastal mountains with most Monterey Bay cities getting 0.25-0.5”.

After a dry Easter Sunday, additional rain chances follow next week. (See “Extended” below)

AIR QUALITY: GOOD

Overnight: Mostly cloudy with drizzly light rain from Monterey Bay northward, slowly tapering off overnight. Lows in the 50s on the coast, upper 30s to 40s inland.  

Friday: Decreasing clouds and warmer with highs in the upper 50s to 60s on the coast and upper 60s to 70s inland.

Saturday: Moderate rain with gusty winds early, then decreasing clouds. Mild and breezy with highs in the upper 50s to 60s.

Extended: Expect dry and seasonable to slightly cool conditions on Easter Sunday. Breezy conditions will develop in the afternoon. We’ll warm up on Monday before a weak weather system passes by to our north. Rain will be possible from Monterey Bay northward late Monday into Tuesday. Another weather system is then possible late in the week.

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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 65ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 71ºF

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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for April 22^nd – 28^th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast into Summer: Weak La Niña

-Area drought status: “Severe Drought” for most of the viewing area with the far eastern fringes of Santa Benito and southeastern corner of Monterey County in “Extreme Drought.”