Watching Tuesday’s Storm System
Here’s a look at your forecast for Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties!
Despite a stretch of sunshine, we remain in an active pattern. Conditions remain somewhat unsettled for our Sunday with a few showers and occasionally gusty winds. A stronger system will arrive on Tuesday with gustier winds and heavier rain. At the moment, it doesn’t appear as if we’ll have any major flooding concerns, but minor flooding will be possible along with potential closures/outages from the wind. We’ll be in a cold, unsettled pattern into next weekend. A system moving by Friday will bring showers, wind, and even mountain snow!
AIR QUALITY: Good
***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters from Pigeon Point to Point Piedras Blancas (not including Monterey Bay) in effect until 3PM Sunday.
- Southeast winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt expected.
*Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.
Sunday: Occasional light rain slowly tapering off. Drizzle may persist overnight into Monday. Gusty south-southeasterly winds switching to colder, breezy northwest winds mid-afternoon. Highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Overnight: Mostly cloudy with occasional drizzle. An isolated, brief shower is also possible. Lows in the 40s with a few inland valleys reaching the upper 30s.
Monday: Partly cloudy with a few sprinkles. Cooler and breezy with highs in the 50s.
Extended: A stronger system arrives Tuesday with potentially heavier rain and gusty winds. A cold weather pattern looks to follow for the rest of next week with highs remaining in the 50s into the weekend. Mountain snow may accompany a fast-moving system on Friday.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 45ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 68ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for March 24th – 30th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
- Forecast: Neutral through the summer with eventual development of El Niño
-Area drought status: Abnormally dry for the Santa Cruz Mountains, the lower valleys of San Benito County, and southern Santa Clara County
-Area drought status: NONE for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito counties, and NONE for the KION coverage area in Santa Clara County.
