Cold Night Ahead
And now, we settle in for a long, cold, winter night with freezing temperatures likely for inland valleys and frost likely for many other areas, even approaching the coast. Expect another cool day on Monday with the chilly air mass in place and high clouds moving in to block the warmth of the sun. Next, we head right back into an active weather pattern with cold fronts passing on Tuesday and later Wednesday. The Tuesday front looks like a light band of showers with a bit of wind, the Wednesday event looks a little more interesting, but still not severe. We’ll get another break with cool, dry days Thu/Fri before more rain chances arrive for the weekend.
AIR QUALITY: Good to Moderate
From the National Weather Service in Monterey (in italics) …
***FREEZE WARNING…
…for the higher elevations and southern valleys of Monterey & San Benito County in effect until 10AM Monday
*Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected.
*Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
*Far interior locations of Monterey and San Benito counties will see a few spots reach the mid 20s Sunday night into Monday morning.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
**FROST ADVISORY**
…for Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz Mountains into Santa Clara County in effect until 10AM Monday.
*Temperatures as low as 36 will result in frost formation.
…for the lower Salinas Valley, 68 corridor, Carmel Valley, and the lower valleys of San Benito County in effect until 10AM Monday
*Temperatures as low as 31 will result in frost formation.
…for the Santa Clara Valley and the Diablos in Santa Clara County until 10AM Monday
*Temperatures as low as 29 will result in frost formation.
*Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
*Coldest temperatures will be across interior and southern portions of Santa Clara county and not San Jose city proper.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Overnight: Clear and cold with coastal lows in the 30s with patchy frost and mid 20s to low 30s inland with widespread frost and a hard freeze for some southern valleys.
Monday: Increasing high clouds throughout the day. Cool with highs in the 50s. A bit breezy for inland valleys in the afternoon.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the afternoon. Cool & breezy with highs in the 50s.
Extended: We’ll be mostly cloudy on Wednesday with (mainly light) rain in the afternoon and evening and occasionally gusty northwest winds. A few showers may last into early Thursday, but we’ll be mostly dry Thursday & Friday before the pattern becomes more active again. There are a wide range of model solutions regarding this weekend’s weather, but for now, prepare for at least some rain and stay tuned to the forecast.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 15th – 21st calls for the likelihood of ABOVE 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
