Passing System, Passing Winds

A weak disturbance will pass by overnight into Friday morning with passing clouds and maybe a sprinkle in the mountains. Gusty winds will follow on Friday afternoon. A stronger system will then develop to our north and move into the Great Basin on Saturday. As it does so, temps will fall and the wind machine will be enhanced. The cool-down won’t last forever, however, as high pressure rebuilds out of the weekend.  

Air Quality: Good to Moderate 

Overnight: Passing clouds with lows in the 40s to around 50ºF.  
 
Friday: Becoming partly cloudy on the coast and mostly sunny inland. Northwesterly onshore winds strengthen into the afternoon, becoming gusty on the coast and into the valleys. Slightly cooler, with coastal highs in the upper 50s to mid-70s—warmest on the north side of the bay—and low 70s to mid-80s inland. After brief evening clearing, low clouds thicken late.  
 
***GALE WARNING***   
...for the near coastal waters from Pigeon Point to Point Piedras Blancas (outside of Monterey Bay) from 3PM Friday until 3AM Saturday   

*Northwest winds 15 to 25kt with gusts up to 35kt expected.  

*Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.  

 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 
 
Saturday: Cloudy in the morning with patchy drizzle possible on the south/east sides of the bay. Then becoming mostly cloudy on the coast and mostly sunny inland into the afternoon. Gusty northwesterly onshore winds at times for most areas. Cooler, with coastal highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s—warmest on the north side of the bay—and mid-60s to mid-70s inland.  

Extended: High pressure begins to rebuild from the southwest as we move out of the weekend. Temperatures exceed normal already by Sunday and then push to around 10ºF above by Monday. Most of next week is looking warm but occasionally windy. Dry condtions expected.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------     
This week's normal temperatures:   
--COASTAL CITIES--   
LOW: 49ºF   
HIGH: 66ºF   
--INLAND CITIES--   
LOW: 46ºF   
HIGH: 75ºF    
-------------------------------------------------------------------------    
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for May 23^rd – 29^th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW 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 15^th : 57.1ºF (avg. of 7 buoys) [Historic May Avg. SST: 55.8ºF]