Cooling Slightly This Weekend

Air Quality Report (As of 12:00pm)
Good to moderate for all reporting areas,

Weather Story:
A ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate the weather across the western United States for the next week or more. Weather systems will dance around the outside of the ridge, but never really make it through--the first of which will bring some extra clouds to the region Saturday. Then, a dry area of low pressure will descend the eastern side of the ridge and anchor in southern California out of the weekend, furthering general offshore flow in Central California. While we’ll cool initially this weekend (after a warm Friday), temperatures will head back upward on Monday. Rain will likely hold off for another week or more.

***Red Flag Warning & Wind Advisory***
... for the Santa Cruz Mountains along with the Diablo Range in Santa Clara County from 11PM tonight through 11AM Monday

- Gusty offshore winds along with dry conditions will increase fire danger. Any fires that start could spread rapidly. Winds could blow around unsecured objects and knock down tree limbs--which could lead to power outages.

***Beach Hazards Statement***
.. for north/west-facing beaches from Monday morning through Monday afternoon for an increased risk of sneaker waves, then...
***HIGH SURF WARNING***
... for north/west-facing beaches through 5PM Tuesday for dangerously large breaking waves up to 25 feet, sneaker waves, high run-up, beach erosion, and enhanced rip currents.

Forecast: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies continue on Sunday with seasonable to slightly warm highs and seasonable to slightly cool lows. Further warming possible early next week as winds shift offshore. Conditions will remain quite dry.

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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 61ºF

--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 36ºF
HIGH: 63ºF

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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 11^th – 17^th calls for the likelihood of near normal temperatures and BELOW 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 and the far eastern side of San Benito County, Abnormally dry for all other areas.