Warming Trend Kicks Off

After an unsettled week, we’ll transition to a warmer, dryer pattern through the weekend. Don’t expect any coastal heat today, though! The marine layer will stabilize and clouds will stick around the bay, keeping temperatures down. High pressure will slowly strengthen and build from the west into the weekend. By Sunday, all areas should see above normal temperatures and by Monday, most should be at least 10ºF above under mostly sunny skies! Peak heat days will be Monday and Tuesday with temps cooling off a bit for the rest of next week and staying dry. Watching for any heat alerts inland for early next week as inland areas will be under a moderate heat risk.  

AIR QUALITY: Good

Today: Remaining partly to mostly cloudy on the coast with somewhat cool temperatures—mainly 60s. Warming inland with 70s-80s under mostly sunny skies. Windy up valleys late in the day.

Overnight: Low stratus clouds at coast and spilling into nearby communities with patchy fog. Lows in the low to mid 50s mainly.

Saturday: Slightly sunnier and warmer on the coast with highs in the 60s to low 70s and warmer inland with highs in the 70s-80s. Windy up valleys late in the day.

Extended: Temperatures keep climbing Sunday into Monday under light offshore flow. Skies will be mostly sunny with only a few low coastal clouds in the mornings and an occasional high cloud passing through. Some cooling expected toward mid-week with an increase in coastal clouds.

*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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 55ºF
HIGH: 71ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 52ºF
HIGH: 86ºF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for September 26^th – October 2^nd calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.

- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: La Niña Watch
- ENSO Forecast: Transition to La Niña into the fall and persist through the winter months.
- Area drought status: Abnormally dry for areas around Monterey Bay northward. Drought-free elsewhere.
- Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature* as of September 20^th: 58.2ºF
(Historic Sep AVG near Monterey: 59.6ºF) -- *average of 7 buoys