More Rain & Wind Overnight

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – After a nice weekend, we’re back into an active weather pattern Monday. Clouds will increase late Sunday ahead of the next storm system which will bring rain & wind to the region and perhaps a chance of thunderstorms
Air Quality: Good to Moderate

***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters from Pigeon Point to Point Pinos outside of Monterey Bay in effect from 3PM Sunday until 3AM Monday.

*South winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and seas 8 to 10 ft expected.

*Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.

**WIND ADVISORY**
…for the Santa Cruz Mountains and the North Coast of Santa Cruz in effect from 5PM Sunday until 2AM Monday.

*South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

*Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.

Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.

Overnight: Light to moderate rain and lows in the 40s to low 50s. Gusty southerly winds at times. Rain & wind tapering off after 5AM with showers possible thereafter.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a few showers and the chance for a thunderstorm with small hail. Showers ending by mid-afternoon. Cool and blustery with highs in the 50s to around 60ºF.

Extended: Dry weather expected on Tuesday and Wednesday with the next weathermaker passing by on Thursday.

*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: 45ºF
HIGH: 63ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 41ºF
HIGH: 66ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for March 24^th – 30^th  calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: Neutral conditions expected by April and then to persist into summer.
- Area drought status: Moderate drought for far southeastern Monterey County. Abnormally dry for southeastern Monterey County and eastern San Benito County. Drought-free for the remainder of the KION coverage area.
 Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature as of March 14^th: 53.2ºF (avg of 7 buoys)
[Historic March Avg. SST: 55.3ºF]