Cool and rainy for Christmas day
The first of two weather systems will arrive Tuesday night, followed by a second system Christmas Day. Both will bring colder temperatures, rain showers, and snow in the higher elevations of the Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountains.
Fair weather will develop Thursday, with dry conditions until late next weekend.
Tuesday night: Light rain during the evening. Moderate rainfall should begin around 10 p.m and spread over the area overnight. Temperatures will be mostly in the upper 40s to 50s.
Christmas Day: Showers, with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 15 mph. The snow level will drop to 3k-4k feet. Some light accumulations are possible over the coastal hills.
Christmas Night: Rain likely in the evening, then a chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the lower to mid 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
Extended: Dry weather will follow for the remainder of the week. Highs will be in the 40s-50s. The next chance of rain arrives late in the weekend.
The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 28th – January 3rd calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
(Winter) Forecast: Neutral
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 59ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 35ºF
