Colder With Gusty Winds
A huge change will come in the weather this weekend. After a nice day on Saturday, a deep trough of low pressure will build in over the western United States. It will push a (mostly) dry cold front through our area with gusty winds and followed by chilly temperatures. After a couple of frigid mornings and cool days, a slow warm-up is then expected.
***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters of Santa Cruz County from 3AM Sunday through 3AM Monday
… for the near coastal waters of Monterey County from 3AM Sunday through 9PM Sunday
… and for Monterey Bay from 9AM to 9PM Sunday.
Expect northwest winds 20 to 40 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and seas 6 to 16 feet at 13 seconds
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 severe conditions.
*Wind Advisory*
… for Santa Cruz & Santa Clara Counties, the coast, coastal mountains, and lower elevation valleys of Monterey & San Benito Counties from 4AM Sunday through 4AM Monday.
Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Strong winds are expected as a dry cold front moves through the region. Winds are expected to be out of the northwest around 15 to 30 mph with wind gusts forecast to range from 30 mph to 45 mph. Strongest wind gusts will be observed along the immediate Pacific Coastline with gusts ranging from 40 mph to 50 mph.
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
Sunday: Patchy morning fog. Partly to mostly cloudy early with a few sprinkles possible. Locations above 4,000ft experience some icing of vegetation. Gusty northwest winds at times with minor wind damage possible. Expect highs in the 50s to around 60ºF with areas above 1,500ft in the north remaining in the 40s.
Monday: Chilly in the morning with lows in the 30s for most areas—20s in sheltered inland valleys. Mostly sunny, but cool with highs in the 50s. Gusty north-northwest winds continue.
Extended: Winds ease on Tuesday morning with frigid temperatures expected. Coastal areas will be in the 30s with widespread frost. Inland areas will be even colder with most spots in the 20s. A few higher elevation valleys will likely dip into the teens! Temperatures will recover only into the low to mid 50s for afternoon highs. After another frosty, but not quite as cold morning on Wednesday, both lows and highs will slowly warm closer to normal and then above by the end of the week. The next chance of precipitation comes on Sunday, though, it looks like another cooler, dryer system at the moment.
The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for February 9th – 15th calls
for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and BELOW
normal precipitation.
El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
(Winter) Forecast: Neutral
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 37ºF
HIGH: 62ºF
