Cool Week, Warmer Weekend
Weather Story: An area of low pressure to our northeast will influence our weather through mid-week. It will bring a cooler-than-normal air mass aloft all while continuing to encourage onshore flow. This will result in cool temperatures for both inland and coastal areas. High pressure builds in from the west as we head into the weekend which will result in a net warm-up. In fact, some inland areas will soar to summer-like temperatures.
Overnight: Low clouds fill back in around the coast and inland valleys in a deep marine layer. Patchy fog possible in the hills and some drizzle possible, but not widespread. Expect lows in the 40s on the coast and for most inland areas. A few southern valleys may dip into the 30s.
Wednesday: Low clouds scatter out to some extent in the afternoon, but cool, onshore flow will continue. It will have a bit more of a westerly (less northwesterly) component in the afternoon, which will keep low clouds on the east side of the bay and outer coast, though some clearing can be expected on the north/south sides of the bay. Expect coastal highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s with 60s to low 70s inland. Becoming breezy on the exposed coast and inland valleys in the afternoon to early evening.
Thursday: Thick low clouds in the morning scatter out to partly cloudy on the coast in the afternoon. Slightly warmer, but still a bit cool for this time of year with coastal highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s and mid 60s to mid 70s inland. Breezy for inland valleys in the afternoon.
Extended: Temperatures warm into the weekend with highs peaking on Sunday. Inland areas will be much warmer than the coast as the flow will remain onshore. Still, even on the coast, above normal temperatures should be achieved. Skies will be mostly sunny with a few low clouds on the coast and the daily blasts of valley winds are likely to persist.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 46ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 41ºF
HIGH: 70ºF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for April 21st – 27th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and BELOW normal precipitation.
-El Niño/La Niña STATUS: Weak La Niña
-Forecast into Summer: Neutral
-Area drought status: Moderate drought for most of the viewing area with abnormally dry conditions in southern Monterey & San Benito Counties.
