Settle In For A Cold Winter’s Night
A cold air mass settles in overnight with clearing skies, setting the state for frosty conditions even toward the coast. Some higher inland valleys will likely experience a hard freeze, though these areas will likely already have seen a freeze on several occasions so far this season. High pressure will influence our weather for the next few days and while mornings will be cold, we’ll have warm afternoons and dry conditions.
AIR QUALITY: Good to Moderate
***FREEZE WARNING***
…for MONTEREY COUNTY: higher terrain & southern valleys
…for SAN BENITO COUNTY: higher terrain & southern valleys
…for SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Santa Clara Valley & Diablo range
… in effect from 8PM Monday until 10AM Tuesday
*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. Cold Conditions can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
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 turn off sprinklers ahead of sub-freezing temperatures to avoid creating ice patches on driveways and sidewalks.
Be sure to cover or tend to sensitive plants and vegetation as they may be damaged by frost.
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 MONTEREY COUNTY: Lower elevation valleys and coastal areas
…for SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: all areas
…for SAN BENITO COUNTY: Lower elevation valleys
…for SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Santa Cruz Mountains
… in effect from 8PM Monday until 10PM Tuesday
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.
Be sure to turn off sprinklers ahead of sub-freezing temperatures to avoid creating ice patches on driveways and sidewalks.
Be sure to cover or tend to sensitive plants and vegetation as they may be damaged by frost.
Overnight: High clouds slowly thin to mostly clear skies. Patchy fog possible in low, damp areas. Cold, with lows in the low 30s to upper 30s on the coast where will frost will be possible and mid-20s to mid-30s inland where frost is likely and some higher valleys will experience a hard freeze.
Tuesday (New Year’s Eve): Mostly sunny into the afternoon, then increasing clouds late. Slightly warmer with coastal highs in the upper 50s to low 60s and low 60s to mid-60s inland. Breezy north-northwesterly winds on the exposed coast and in the valleys in the afternoon.
Wednesday (New Year’s Day): Another chilly morning, though it won’t be as cold as Tuesday. Scattered high clouds thinning to mostly sunny skies. Warmer, with coastal highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s and low 60s to upper 60s inland. Light winds.
Extended: High pressure continues to build in through Thursday, sending temperatures 5-10ºF above normal. Clouds increase late Thursday into Friday as a weather system approaches. It will likely bring wind and rain to the region on Friday and cooler temperatures as well. Longer term trends show high pressure returning into the next week with (mostly) dry and warm conditions continuing.
*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: 42ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 7th – 13th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW 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 San Benito County, northeastern Monterey County and eastern Santa Clara County. Drought-free elsewhere
- Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature as of December 31st : 55.7ºF (avg of 7 buoys) [December Average: 55.0ºF]
