Frosty Mornings
A cold air mass will remain settled in over the region as we head into Sunday morning. Expect another cold morning with patchy frost for most inland low areas and a hard freeze possible in southern valleys. The air mass warms slightly on Sunday, so most areas will be a touch warmer. However, clouds will be on the increase—especially in the north—so some locations across Santa Cruz County may actually cooler. Why will clouds be on the increase? Well, I’m glad you asked! A frontal system will “take aim” on our area Sunday night with a weak warm front bringing a chance for a few light shower from the late afternoon into the early evening and then the corresponding cold front bringing another similarly slight chance of showers late in the evening. Precip with this frontal system will be light and may not reach some inland areas. Behind the front, gusty northwest winds will pick up into Monday.
AIR QUALITY: Good
***FREEZE WARNING***
…for the southern valleys and higher terrain of Monterey & San Benito Counties in effect from 12AM Sunday until 8AM Sunday
*Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected.
*Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Cold conditions will be hazardous to sensitive populations such as unhoused individuals.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly.
Be sure to open sink cabinet doors and/or drip faucets. This may help reduce or prevent damage to uninsulated pipes and other plumbing.
**FROST ADVISORY**
…for coastal mountains of Monterey County in effect from 12AM Sunday until 8AM Sunday
*Temperatures as low as 32 will result in frost formation.
*Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. Cold conditions will be hazardous to sensitive populations such as unhoused individuals. Cold Conditions can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Overnight: Mostly clear and chilly with patchy fog possible in some low, sheltered areas. Lows in the 30s to low 40s on the coast and mid-20s to mid-30s for inland valleys. Some southern valleys will experience a hard freeze while patchy frost can be expected over most inland & mountain valleys.
Sunday: Mostly clear and cool early with clouds increasing in the afternoon. A chance of rain from mid-afternoon into the evening around the bay and a chance for isolated showers farther inland. Highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Breezy up valleys late in the day, then winds picking up out of the northwest into late evening for all areas.
Monday: Mostly sunny with gusty northwesterly winds at times. Dry and cool with highs in the 50s to low 60s.
Extended: Winds will ease on Tuesday but we’ll remain in cool northwesterly flow. High pressure slowly builds in through the end of the week all while a plume of moisture is directed to the coast to our north. We’ll slowly warm through around Thursday or Friday with highs returning to or possibly slightly exceeding normal. Then, once the ridge flattens, some rain may sneak through—somewhere in the Friday to Sunday time frame. Stay tuned!
*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
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 66ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 41ºF
HIGH: 69ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for November 24th – 30th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE 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 November 16th : 54.2ºF (avg of 7 buoys) [November Average: 56.6ºF]
