Cooling Down
Air Quality Report (As of 9:00pm)
Good to moderate for all reporting areas, but unhealthy for sensitive groups in Boulder Creek.
Weather Story:
A dry area of low pressure to our south will continue throw some clouds our way and keep the general flow offshore. This low will weaken Wednesday, however, and flow will gradually become more onshore—commencing a pattern change which will allow weather systems to once again deal us glancing blows from the north. With the return of onshore flow, temperatures will return closer to normal for the rest of the week and we’ll start to see the potential for rain once again.
From the National Weather Service in Monterey…
**High Surf Advisory**
… for the immediate coast of Monterey County through 3PM Wednesday.
We are stepping down our High Surf Warning to a High Surf Advisory along the coastline from Sonoma to Monterey Counties. North Monterey Bay, essentially Santa Cruz County is being stepped back from a high surf advisory to a beach hazard statement. Large long period swell continues to show at area buoys. From Point Reyes buoy reading 17 feet @ 17 seconds to Point Sur buoy reading 14 feet @ 18 seconds, as of 730 PM. This makes for continued large breaking waves along the coast through the night. While heights will drop through the night, open ocean swell is outperforming the wave models. Therefore we saw the need to extend some kind of notice that the ocean will remain violently fierce into Wednesday. In addition, the periods are remaining up, which means lots of water moving and extreme currents will continue, especially near jetties, points, and headlands. These currents can take a person a hundreds of yards in a very short time. Beyond the dangers of thundering surf and extreme current, the waters remain bone chilling cold with buoys reporting 52-55 degree temperatures. Cold water shock followed by cold water paralysis leads to drownings. All this to say, breaking waves at the most exposed beaches will continue to be in the 15-20 foot range with sets potentially reaching to 25 feet. Beaches facing west and west-northwest will be the most impacted. Stay off rocks and jetties, exposed piers and low lying exposed peninsulas. If you are taken into the water without warning and unprepared, survival is unlikely. Cold water drownings occur each year with these types of events and are completely avoidable by remaining a safe distance from the coastline. Sheltered areas, such as Capitola, will remain dangerous due to currents and cold water, even though the wave heights will be lower than that of the exposed coast. Do your part. Keep our first responders safe by remaining safe yourself.
Large breaking waves of up to 20 feet, increased wave runup, and strong rip current.
Large breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks, and into dangerous seas. Life threatening swimming conditions can be expected. Cold water rescues or drownings are more likely with these waves and stronger rip currents.
Stay out of the water until conditions become much less dangerous.
Everyone should remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure.
*Beach Hazards Statement*
… for the north shore of Monterey Bay through 3PM Wednesday.
Large breaking waves of 10-15 feet, increased wave runup, and strong rip current.
Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Large breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks, and into dangerous seas. Cold water rescues or drownings are more likely with these waves and stronger rip currents.
Stay out of the water until conditions become much less dangerous.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.
Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.
Overnight: Scattered high clouds, otherwise clear. Expect coastal lows in the mid 40s to low 50s with 30s to 40s for the inland valleys and 40s to 50s up in the hills.
Wednesday: It will be a transition day as our offshore flow ends and onshore flow returns. High clouds will slowly thin out and most coastal areas will reach their highs early in the afternoon before northwest winds commence. Most areas will see highs in the 60s to low 70s.
Thursday: A few high clouds passing through with scattered low clouds on the coast. Cooler, with highs mainly in the upper 50s to 60s on the coast and 60s inland. Becoming breezy in the afternoon and into the evening.
Extended: Temperatures continue to cool into Friday as a weak cold front brings increased clouds and perhaps a little drizzle overnight from Thursday. Temperatures will moderate into the weekend but will remain seasonable. Weather systems will pass by on Saturday, then again on Sunday. The Sunday system hold the most potential for light rain in our region, though probability remains somewhat low. Additional weather systems will approach next week, but we’ll be on the edge of rain potential.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 42ºF
HIGH: 60ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 35ºF
HIGH: 62ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 16th – 22nd calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near 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.
