Warming Trend, Rain Chances

A gradual warming trend into next week. A building ridge to our north will help warm up temperatures in the coming days. A cut off area of low pressure just offshore will linger around, however, and continue to pump moisture into the region. Sunday and Monday may bring some precipitation chances once again. Late Sunday, an area of rain and thunderstorms will move over the Sierra Nevada and drift east toward us as it dissipates. Typically in scenarios like this, we only get a light shower or two—and often times, only a few drips at best. Monday may be a little more interesting as the moisture column is a bit deeper which could lead to isolated shower/thunderstorm development over the inland mountains—which also would drift east toward the coast while dissipating. Beyond Monday, generally warmer, dry weather is expected, though the air may feel humid at times.

AIR QUALITY: Good

Overnight: Low clouds and fog rolling back in around the bay and coastal valleys. Drizzle possible. Lows a bit warmer in upper 50s coastal and widespread 50s and 60s elsewhere.

Sunday: Partly cloudy with increasing clouds and a slight chance of a shower. Warmer with coastal highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s and 80s to upper 90s inland. A couple triple digits possible. Breezy westerly onshore winds at the coast becoming stronger for inland valleys late.

Monday: Warming trend through mid week with high temps near 70 at many coastal locations and 80s and 90s with some triple digits in southern Salinas valley region. A chance for a shower or thunderstorm over inland mountains and may drift eastward toward the coast with a shower.

Extended: Warming trend through Wednesday then cooler air settles in for late week and weekend. Staying dry.

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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 55ºF
HIGH: 69ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 53ºF
HIGH: 86ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for August 18^th – 24^th 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: Moderate to strong El Niño expected this winter.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free