Leveling Off
Temperatures will level off about 5ºF below normal for the rest of the week as we enter a stagnant weather pattern. We’ll see our typical cycle of low clouds at the coast with overcast conditions in the overnights and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Some nightly fog & drizzle is possible. Later in the week, surface winds will be more northwesterly which will give Santa Cruz more sun and Monterey less. Some warming then possible out of the weekend as the ridge nudges north.
AIR QUALITY: Good to Moderate for most areas (one unhealthy reading in Gilroy)
Overnight: Low clouds for the coast and inland valleys. Patchy drizzle on the east side of the bay. Fog possible for inland valleys and in the hills. Locally reduced air quality in populated areas due to firework useage. Expect lows in the low to mid 50s on the coast and upper 40s to 50s for inland valleys and some 60s up in the higher valleys and in the hills.
Wednesday: Overcast early, then becoming partly cloudy on the coast and sunny inland. Expect highs in the 60s on the coast with low 70s to mid 90s inland. Westerly onshore winds becoming stronger for the inland valleys in the afternoon and early evening.
Thursday: Overcast early, then becoming partly cloudy on the coast and sunny inland. Expect highs in the 60s on the coast with low 70s to mid 90s inland. Westerly onshore winds becoming stronger for the inland valleys in the afternoon and early evening.
Extended: Not much change into the weekend except for a change to more northwesterly winds by Friday. Coastal winds will be a little stronger. Temperatures remain below normal through Sunday, then will begin to warm up early next week.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 54ºF
HIGH: 68ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 52ºF
HIGH: 85ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for July 12th - 18th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. Note: Little to no precipitation typically falls this time of year.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory
- Forecast: El Niño developing this summer.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
