Cold Monday Morning, Wet & Windy Tuesday
Here’s a look at your forecast for Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties!
Stormy weather returns once again, but we still have a day to prepare. In the meantime, a cold air mass remains in place, making for a frosty start to Monday. We’ll warm up a bit on Monday afternoon, but highs will remain below normal. Clouds will be on the increase ahead of the next storm system. Its cold front will arrive early in the day on Tuesday bringing gusty winds and moderate rains. Rounds of showers will follow through Wednesday with a slight chance of thunderstorms. The air mass behind the front will be cold, so snow levels may dip down as low as 3kft. A few final showers may pop up over the hills Thursday before drier weather returns into the weekend. Temps will slowly creep up as well, but will remain below normal. Another weak weather system look to arrive around Sunday, but strength and timing are still a bit up in the air.
AIR QUALITY: Good
**FROST ADVISORY**
… for most of the KION coverage area in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties outside of coastal Monterey County through 9AM Monday.
*Temperatures ranging 32 to 36 degrees will result in very cold mornings and may result in frost formation. Localized spots may reach 30 degrees.
*The hours of most concern will be 4 am to 9 am each morning.
*Residents in homes without power as well as the unsheltered or marginally sheltered populations will be at risk in these cold early morning temperatures. Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
Overnight: Mostly clear and cold. Frost for most inland valleys with patchy frost to the coast. Northwest winds will continue at times but will be slightly weaker than previous nights. Lows in the 30s for most areas with a few 40s right along the coast.
Monday: Cold in the morning under mostly clear skies, then increasing clouds. Slightly warmer with highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Tuesday: Increasing southerly winds in the early morning with rain arriving around the Monterey Bay by dawn. Moderate rain with gusty winds will move across the Monterey Bay Area through around lunchtime before moving south and out of our area late. Showers and breezy conditions persist after. Highs in the 50s.
***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters of Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties including Monterey Bay from 3AM Tuesday until 9AM Tuesday.
-South winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt expected off Santa Cruz County
-South winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected for Monterey Bay
-Southeast winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt expected off Monterey County
*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.
**WIND ADVISORY**
… for the coast and coastal mountains of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties and the Santa Cruz Mountains into Santa Clara County in effect from 5AM Tuesday until 2PM Tuesday
*South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.
*Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
*Strongest winds are expected for coastal areas, but strong wind gusts can funnel through the city. Wind gusts between 30 to 40 mph are expected with parts of the coast reaching up to 45 mph.
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Extended: Showers and thunderstorms likely Wednesday as the upper level low moves down the coast. A few final showers pop up over the hills Thursday afternoon. Temps remain chilly. We’ll warm up a bit with dry conditions expected Fri/Sat. Watching another wet weather system around Sunday, however. Though it doesn’t look all that strong at this juncture.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 69ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for April 3rd – 9th 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: Currently drought-free.
