Temps Dropping, Tracking Wind & Rain
Mainly clear skies with temps dropping overnight with Frost Advisories issued for the weekend. Clouds will be on the increase Saturday as a cold front arrives bringing gusty northwest winds and a better chance of rain. Still, amounts are likely to be light with the Saturday system. Showers could linger until dawn Sunday. There will be a little break Sunday afternoon through Monday. However, the pattern will become active with additional rain chances mid-week next week.
AIR QUALITY: GOOD
Overnight: The majority of the night will be mostly clear, and chilly. Lows will drop into the upper 20s to low 30s inland, upper 30s to low 40s near the coast. Areas of frost likely, especially in southern valleys. Clouds will be on the increase around dawn. Winds will remain light out of the northwest.
**FROST ADVISORY**
… for Interior Monterey County including Pinnacles National Park, the southern valleys and mountains of Monterey & San Benito Counties including Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, Hollister Valley, Carmel Valley, Arroyo Seco, Lake Antonio and in effect from Midnight until 10AM Saturday and Midnight Saturday until 10 AM Sunday.
*Temperatures below freezing temperature will result in frost formation.
*Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Saturday: Mostly clear and chilly in the morning, then increasing clouds with rain possible in the afternoon. Showers will remain light, with pockets of moderate rain. Gusty northwesterly winds at times. Highs will be cooler, with mid to upper 50s across the region.
*GALE WARNING*
… for Coastal Waters from Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blancas California out to 10 nm.
*In effect Saturday afternoon through Sunday Morning.
IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING...
*Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt and seas 11 to 16 ft possible.
*Strong winds can cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Mariners should consider altering plans to avoid possible hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe wind and seas
Extended: Showers may linger to dawn on Sunday, then dry conditions expected through Monday. Then, we’ll be on the edge of a deep trough to the east with a blocking high to our west. This will be a chilly weather pattern for us, but occasional weather systems will slide by giving us rain chances mid to late next week.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 12th – 18th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: Strong to Very Strong El Niño expected this winter.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
