Quickly Cooling

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - Cooler, windier weather can be expected on Thursday as a trough of low pressure digs down the West Coast. Some inland areas will drop as much as 15ºF day to day. On the coast, the cool-down will be less notable, but low clouds lingering on the south side of the bay during the day will mark a change from previous days. Winds could gust up to 40mph in the inland hills & gaps in the afternoon, the initial gusts of which will be quite dry. Fire danger will be elevated. Windy conditions will continue into Friday and inland temps will continue to fall.  
   
Air Quality: Good to Moderate   

***GALE WARNING***    
…for the near coastal waters from Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blancas extended until 9PM Thursday.   
   
*Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt 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.    
   
Overnight: Low clouds slowly redevelop around the bay with patchy fog. Lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s on the coast and inland valleys, slightly warmer up in the hills. Breezy northwesterly onshore winds at times. 
  
Thursday: Some linger on the south side of the bay throughout the day, otherwise sunny. Cooler, with coastal highs in the upper 50s to mid-70s—warmest on the north side of the bay—and upper 60s to low 90s inland. Gusty northwesterly onshore and up valley winds at times with elevated fire danger in the inland hills. Low clouds thicken late with some drizzle possible on the south side of the bay.  
 
Friday: Mostly cloudy early with patchy coastal drizzle, then becoming partly cloudy on the coast and mostly sunny inland. Gusty northwesterly onshore and up valley winds at times. Elevated fire danger. Coastal highs in the 60s to mid-70s—warmest on the north side of the bay—and upper 60s to mid 80s inland.  
  
Extended: Troughing will persist on the West Coast through the weekend. The deep marine layer along with northwest flow will limit coastal clouds and allow for seasonably warm coastal temps. Inland areas will remain slightly cool, however.  Coastal winds finally ease on Monday and we’ll likely see a bit more marine layer cloudcover into early next week.  
 
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This week's normal temperatures:    
--COASTAL CITIES--     
LOW: 52ºF         
HIGH: 68ºF    
--INLAND CITIES--          
LOW: 50ºF          
HIGH: 82ºF     
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The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for June 26^th – July 2^nd calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and near normal precipitation, though little to no precipitation usually falls this time of year.    
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: Neutral    
- ENSO Forecast: Neutral conditions persist through summer & possibly into next winter.    
-Area drought status: Abnormally dry for portions of southern San Benito and southeastern Monterey Counties. Drought-free for the remainder of the KION coverage area.    
-Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature as of June 19^th : 55.5ºF (avg. of 7 buoys) [Historic June Avg. SST: 56.7ºF]