Fire Weather Alert Day
AIR QUALITY ALERT (PM2.5 AQI as of 12AM)
Carmel Valley 57 (Moderate)
Hollister 92 (Moderate)
King City 84 (Moderate)
Monterey 62 (Moderate)
San Lorenzo Valley 229 (Very Unhealthy)
Salinas 75 (Moderate)
Santa Cruz 86 (Moderate)
High pressure to our east will continue to pump moisture into our area Monday. We’ll see scattered high clouds and the chance of an isolated light shower/thundershower. Most areas will not see any rain or lightning, however. The threat should leave the area by Tuesday with more tranquil weather expected for the rest of next week. In fact, we will likely see the return to Fogust on the coast. Perhaps a welcome change to the last week of chaos? Air quality will remain unhealthy at times and skies shrouded in haze for the next few days. Do what you can to limit time outdoors and any strenuous activities.
***RED FLAG WARNING***
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the entire KION viewing area through 5PM PDT Monday. The Fire Weather Watch is longer in effect.
Elevated moisture and instability from former Hurricane Genevieve will move over the region this weekend through early next week and bring the threat of elevated thunderstorms across much of Northern California. A low pressure system off the coast may enhance and strengthen these thunderstorms allowing some to develop frequent lighting strikes and gusty erratic outflow winds. These erratic gusty outflow winds can lead to potentially dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior on existing wildfires while additional lightning strikes may result in new wildfire starts.
Prevailing winds will be southwest, light in the morning and breezy to locally gusty in the afternoon and evenings. However, erratic gusty outflow winds of 30 to 65 mph may accompany stronger thunderstorms.
The strongest thunderstorms are anticipated to develop Sunday evening through Monday morning. Additional isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms are forecast to develop over land from early Sunday to late Monday. Weaker isolated storms are possible off the coast as early as Saturday. Dry thunderstorms may become wet as the event progresses.
Lightning will likely spark new fires across the region, including remote areas. Wildfires in remote regions may not become apparent until warmer and drier conditions allow them to grow. Erratic gusty outflow winds may result in dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior. Please report potential fires to local CALFIRE or SHERIFF offices.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now…or will shortly. A combination of strong winds…low relative humidity…and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Overnight: Scattered high clouds with low cloudcover and fog possible along the coast. Smoky in places. Lows in the 50s for most areas with low 60s for southern valleys and the higher elevations.
Monday: Partly cloudy and smoky with a lower, but non-zero chance of (mostly dry) thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Erratic winds, light rain, and lightning possible with storms. Seasonable, with coastal highs in the 60s-70s, 80s-90s inland. Breezy for the inland valleys in the afternoon and evening.
Extended: The weather is looking more tranquil for the next of the week with occasional low clouds near the coast and smoky sunshine elsewhere. We will see our normal daily cycle of onshore winds, however, so afternoons could get gusty which could lead to fire growth. Highs will remain mostly seasonable—perhaps a touch warm inland.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 54ºF
HIGH: 71ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 51ºF
HIGH: 86ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for August 30th – September 5th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. Note: Little to no precipitation typically falls this time of year.
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
-Forecast into Winter: La Niña Watch
-Area drought status: Moderate drought for much of Santa Cruz & Santa Clara Counties, Abnormally dry on the east shore of the bay into San Benito County. No drought classification for much of Monterey County outside of the Gabilan Range.
