High Surf Overnight
High surf remains the concern overnight even as the weather calms. Large swells will continue to pound the coast into the morning hours before easing into Friday afternoon. Friday will be a quiet weather day besides the threat of morning fog and perhaps a few sprinkles early in the day. It will be a nice break before the weather becomes active once again this weekend. The next storm system arrives late Saturday into Sunday likely bringing at least moderate rainfall with gusty winds. At this point, light wind damage and minor flooding will be the biggest threats. A wetter system then takes aim on the area Monday into Tuesday. That one could bring long duration moderate to heavy rain which could lead to a higher chance of more widespread flooding. Gusty, damaging winds and thunderstorms are also possible. Another system arrives late in the week. No rest for the wicked or the weary.
AIR QUALITY: Good
***FLOOD WARNING***
…for Salinas River Lagoon until 2:45AM Friday.
* Flooding around the Salinas River Lagoon is imminent or occurring.
* Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the warned area.
- At 6:56 PM PST, gauge reports indicated heavy rain. Flooding is already occurring in the warned area.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include... areas around the Salinas River Lagoon.
* Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
***FLOOD WARNING***
… for the Carmel River Lagoon extended until 4:00AM
*Flooding caused by excessive rainfall runoff, high tide, and large west swell.
*Flooding of areas around the Carmel River Lagoon is imminent or occurring.
- At 654 PM PST, emergency management reported flooding in the warned area. Flooding is already occurring.
- - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Mission Fields and areas around Carmel River Lagoon.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
***HIGH SURF WARNING***
… for the immediate coast of Monterey County until 3AM Friday.
*Dangerously large breaking waves of 20 to 27 feet expected.
*Extremely dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Very large shorebreak. Much farther than normal wave runup. Some beaches will be inundated at high tide. Rounding or climbing over rock outcroppings will be extremely dangerous. Fishing off rock walls or jetties may wash you out to sea.
*The ocean is an unrelenting environment with little to no chance of rescue. Respect this force of nature and remain well away from hazardous ocean conditions. Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure.
**HIGH SURF ADVISORY**… for the immediate coast of the north side of Monterey Bay in effect from 7AM Thursday until 3AM Friday.
*Large breaking waves of 17 to 22 feet.
*Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Large shorebreak. Farther than normal wave runup. Some beaches will be inundated at high tide. Rounding or climbing over rock outcroppings will be extremely dangerous. Fishing off rock walls or jetties may wash you out to sea.
*The ocean is an unrelenting environment with little to no chance of rescue. Respect this force of nature and remain well away from hazardous ocean conditions.
Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.
Overnight: Partly cloudy with an isolated shower or two and patchy fog, with lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Southerly winds will become light. A few sprinkles possible even after dawn.
Friday: Partly cloudy with a few sprinkles early. Then, dry with highs in the 50s to low 60s. Breezy at times. Clouds increase late.
Saturday: Increasing clouds with light rain possible early in the day. Winds becoming gusty. Moderate rain possible late in the day. Highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Extended: Moderate rain & wind linger into Sunday, then a brief break before a wet system with moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds moves in Monday into Tuesday. Wednesday looks nice, so there’s that. Then, Thursday it rains again.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 13th – 19th calls for the likelihood of near normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast: Weak La Niña continues through winter, becomes neutral by Spring
-Area drought status: “Severe Drought” for most of the viewing area with “Extreme Drought” in southern San Benito and southeastern Monterey Counties. The southeastern third of San Benito County has been upgraded to “Exceptional Drought”
