Another Round of Fire Weather Coming
Air Quality Report (As of 12AM)
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 next of which will cause critical fire conditions over the hills Sunday into 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.
***RED FLAG WARNING***
From the National Weather Service in Monterey…
… for the Diablo Range in Santa Clara County through 8AM Friday
WIND: Through Friday morning. North to northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Gusts to 45 mph in the higher ridges and peaks. Locally stronger winds may mix down to the valley floors.
HUMIDITY: Through Friday morning. Maximum overnight humidity 20
to 30 percent, locally higher in the valleys.
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.
Overnight: Widespread low clouds with fog possible. Expect coastal lows to be in the 50s with 40s for inland valleys and upper 50s to low 60s in the hills.
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.
**Fire Weather Watch**
From the National Weather Service in Monterey…
…for the Diablo Range in Santa Clara County and the Santa Cruz Mountains from Sunday AM through Tuesday AM.
WIND: In the Diablos, expect north to northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts to 40 to 60. Stronger gusts up to 70+ mph may be possible over favored ridges and peaks during the night and morning hours. For the Santa Cruz Mountains, North to northeast 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Locally stronger winds are possible over the higher ridges and peaks.
HUMIDITY: Minimum daytime humidity of 5 to 15 percent. Maximum overnight humidity generally between 15and 35 percent.
Any new fires that start will spread rapidly.
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.
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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 30th – November 5th 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.
