Rain & Wind Return Tuesday
Air Quality Report (As of 7:00PM)
All reporting stations are good.
The strongest storm system of the season so far will arrive on our shores Tuesday. Southerly winds will pick up ahead of the system after midnight, but rain will likely hold off for most areas until after noon Tuesday. The cold front will arrive in Santa Cruz County by early afternoon, then slowly pass through the bay and inland into the evening. Most areas, especially near the coast will get a period of moderate rain which will then become more sporadic and light into the evening. Most inland areas will only see periods of light rain. While rainfall won’t be heavy, minor debris flows are possible in and around burn areas. Drivers may also experience ponding on the roadways around the region. Winds will max out in the afternoon, then slowly weaken into the evening. Some minor tree damage possible for exposed coastal areas.
Southerly flow behind the initial front may keep occasional light rain going in the coastal mountains through mid-day Wednesday. Also, a trailing system may bring an additional period of light rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains early Thursday. Behind these systems, cool air will settle in across the region with both lows and highs expected to be below normal.
Overnight: Increasing clouds and southerly winds overnight. Expect coastal lows in the upper 40s to low 50s with upper 30s to 40s inland.
Tuesday: Southerly winds continue to increase on the exposed coast and in Santa Cruz County early in the day. Clouds will be on the increase as we head into the afternoon with rain spreading from west to east across the viewing area, moving inland more so in the evening. Winds will actually remain southerly but weaken in to the evening. High temperatures will be in the 50s to around 60ºF in Santa Cruz County with 60s to low 70s elsewhere as it will take longer for the clouds to fill in.
Wednesday: Periods of light rain may continue into the morning hours, then clouds will break outside of the coastal mountains. Expect highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Breezy at times.
Extended: A weak, trailing weather system will pass by Thursday morning and may produce some light rain in the Santa Cruz Mountains. At the moment, other areas look to remain dry. Temperatures will remain cool for the rest of the week, both highs and lows are expected to be below normal with patchy inland frost Friday & Saturday. Clouds will increase this weekend as another system passes by to our north.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 45ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 39ºF
HIGH: 67ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for November 24th – 30th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Weak La Niña
-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.
