Cooler With Increased Fire Danger

Air Quality Report (As of 7PM)
All reporting stations are good to moderate.

Temperatures will continue to slide downward into the weekend as a deep trough over the northern U.S. digs south and backs westward. It will encourage the area of low pressure to our southwest to join the party farther east. As this low moves over us, cooler temperatures aloft will be reflected at the surface, especially for inland areas. This will be reinforced by bursts of cool, dry air from the north. The first of which will cause critical fire conditions over the hills tonight into Friday and another, stronger burst is likely Sunday in to Monday or Tuesday. Temperatures will fall for all areas into the weekend, then highs will slowly warm back to normal by Tuesday or so. Low temperatures will be quite chilly, though-probably the coolest since last spring some time.

Overnight: Patchy fog possible along the coast, mostly clear skies elsewhere. Expect coastal lows in the upper 40s to low 50s with 40s for inland valleys and upper 50s to low 60s in the hills.
 

***RED FLAG WARNING***
From the National Weather Service in Monterey…
… for the Diablo Range in Santa Clara County from 10PM Wednesday through 8AM Friday
… for the Santa Cruz Mountains from 1AM Thursday through 8AM Friday
… for the “North Coast” of Santa Cruz County into San Mateo County from 1AM Thursday through 8AM Friday

WIND: North to northeast 10 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Locally stronger winds are possible over the higher ridges, peaks, and passages that lead to the shoreline. Winds will be strongest during the overnight hours. Locally stronger winds are possible over the higher ridges and peaks.

HUMIDITY: Daytime humidities in the 12-30% range with poor overnight recoveries.

Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 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.

Thursday: Patchy fog possible on the coast early, otherwise mostly sunny with a few thin clouds passing through. Slightly cooler with coastal highs in the 60s to low70s and 70s to 80s inland. Gusty dry winds over the hills and briefly breezy on the exposed coast in the afternoon.

Friday: Patchy low clouds/fog possible on the coast, otherwise sunny. Cooler, with coastal highs mainly in the 60s and 70s to around 80ºF inland.

Extended: Highs will be coolest this weekend with upper 50s to 60s on the coast and upper 60s to 70s inland. It will be mostly sunny, however! Offshore winds likely again out of the weekend into early next week, increasing fire danger. Expect sunny conditions for most of early next week.

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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 49ºF
HIGH: 69ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 45ºF
HIGH: 78ºF

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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for October 29^th –  November 4^th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation. 
 
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Neutral
-Forecast into Winter: La Niña Advisory

-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.