Slowly Warming

Expect a crisp and cool start to the new year but we’ll warm up to seasonable to slightly warm temperatures during the afternoon. High pressure continues to slowly nudge in from the south, pushing storm systems to our north. The ridge will amplify through Thursday and then move east, letting a weather system through…

AIR QUALITY: Good to Moderate (locally unhealthy for sensitive groups due to NYE fireworks use)

**FROST ADVISORY**
… for most of San Benito County including the Hollister area, valleys (Salinas and Carmel) and the Cholame Hills in Monterey County, the Santa Clara Valley and Eastern Hills.

*Until 9AM Wednesday.

*Temperatures as low as 34 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.

*Parts of southern Monterey County could see temperatures drop below 32 degrees.

*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: Decreasing high clouds. Some fog possible in low, damp areas. Lows in the 30s to low 40s on the coast and mid-20s to mid-30s inland.

Wednesday (New Year’s Day): Mostly sunny and slightly warmer with highs in the low to mid-60s for most areas. Light winds.

Thursday: Mostly sunny and warmer yet with highs in the 60s to low 70s. Light winds.

Extended: A weather system will bring wind and rain to the region on Friday along with ushering in cooler temperatures. 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 8^th – 14^th 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 31^st : 54.6ºF (avg of 7 buoys) [December Average: 55.0ºF]