Winter In April
The cold core of an anomalously cool upper level low will linger over Central California overnight. The result will be the continuation of showers with isolated thunderstorms and mountain snow. Snow levels remain at around 2.5kft in the Santa Cruz Mountains and 3kft in the south. Showers may also continue to produce small hail. As we move into Friday, cold, but moist northwest flow will keep the shower machine running, though the air moving in will ever so slowly dry out. Showers will become less numerous later in the day and all but shut down by sunset. We’ll remain in cool and occasionally blustery northwest flow through the weekend. Friday’s temperatures will remain 10-20ºF below normal and the weekend will only be slightly warmer. Conditions will be much dryer this weekend—there is a chance for a few coastal sprinkles on Saturday and a few isolated showers as a passing but dying weather system moves into our area. When will we warm up? Find out in the extended forecast below…
AIR QUALITY: Good
Overnight: Mostly cloudy with rounds of showers and an isolated thunderstorm possible. Snow above 2,500ft with flakes dipping lower in some areas. Lows in the upper 30s to mid 40s on the coast and mainly 30s to around 40ºF inland. Gusty northwesterly winds at times.
Friday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms slowly tapering off throughout the day. Small hail possible. Additional snow possible above 3,000ft. Cool with gusty northwesterly winds. Highs in the 50s for the coast and valleys, 40s for the higher elevations.
Saturday: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Can’t rule out a few sprinkles near the coast late. Breezy northwesterly winds and just a touch warmer with highs in the 50s to around 60ºF.
**FROST ADVISORY**
..for the higher terrain and valleys of Monterey & San Benito Counties in effect from 1AM Saturday until 9AM Saturday
*Temperatures will drop into the 33-36 degree Fahrenheit range, resulting in frost formation.
*Frost could kill sensitive outdoor vegetation if left uncovered.
*These temperatures will be hazardous to sensitive populations such as unhoused individuals.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Extended: A weak system will pass by on Sunday and may bring a few light showers, but they shouldn’t be all that impactful. Highs remain quite cool for this time of year with upper 50s to low 60s. We’ll then slowly warm into the work week with highs returning to above normal levels by Tuesday and staying there through the end of the week! Get ready for 70s and even a few inland 80s!
*Note: Any alerts from the National Weather Service in Monterey will be noted in italics above. Alerts may be edited for brevity or local clarification (in parenthesis).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 41ºF
HIGH: 69ºF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for April 12th – 18th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory, La Niña Watch
- ENSO Forecast: Transition from El Niño to neutral by Spring and then to La Niña by summer.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
