Warm Work-Week Start

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – We're in for a bit of a temperature roller coaster in the coming days as we flipflop between offshore and onshore flow and the nearby ridge sways back and forth. We’ll get a big temperature jump on Monday as offshore winds keep the marine layer at bay and the ridge surging in from the west warms temperatures aloft. Inland heating along with a low over the Great Basin nudging back westward will mean for stronger onshore flow Tuesday along with slight cooling aloft—a net cool-down for most areas.  

Air Quality: Good to Moderate    

*Beach Hazards* 
… for the immediate coast of Monterey County in effect through Monday morning. 

-Moderate period northwest swell will result in breaking waves between 15 to 20 feet, with the highest waves up to 28 feet in favored locations, and an increased risk for rip currents. 

*Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. 

Overnight: Mostly clear with a few mid-level clouds in the south and the potential for patchy fog in low, sheltered areas. Offshore winds in the hills, gusting up to 30mph. Lows in the 40s for most areas.  
 
Monday: Mostly sunny with light offshore winds early. Then, northwesterly winds over the water will strengthen in the afternoon, along with a southerly wind surge coming up the coast and eventually into the bay. Coastal highs early in the day, in the 60s-70s with a sea breeze moderating things late in the day. Upper 70s to 80s expected for inland valleys with a breeze for major valleys eventually.  
 
Tuesday: Southerly flow strengthens and will keep winds onshore, especially into Santa Cruz County. Cooler with coastal highs in the 60s to low 70s—warmest on the south side of the bay—and upper 60s to upper 70s inland. Windy up valleys late in the day.  
 
Extended: Drizzle possible across Santa Cruz County early Wednesday morning as onshore flow deepens. Coastal clouds may hang around a bit more during the afternoon. Then, high pressure strengthens, sending temps back upward through Friday. Inland areas may see widespread 80s-90s. Some cooling out of the weekend as a trough approaches. *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: 48ºF 
HIGH: 65ºF 
--INLAND CITIES-- 
LOW: 45ºF 
HIGH: 74ºF  
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for May 12^th  – 18^th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation. 
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: Neutral 
- ENSO Forecast: Neutral conditions persist through summer & possibly into next winter. 
-Area drought status: Abnormally dry for far 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 May 5^th : 55.1ºF (avg. of 7 buoys) [Historic May Avg. SST: 55.8ºF]