More Moisture on the Way
AIR QUALITY:
GOOD to MODERATE for all reporting stations.
WEATHER STORY
The next system arrives late Wednesday into Thursday. This one will have an increasing moisture plume but will also be displaced from the main system to the northeast. Timing will be critical with this system and could mean the difference between no rain at all or potentially moderate rain amounts. Perhaps the best chance of rain will come out of the weekend, which is a bit far out. In the meantime, expect cold mornings on Friday & Saturday between the weather systems.
Wednesday: A foggy start to the day with some clearing later in the morning. Then, increasing clouds with a chance of sprinkles after dark. A bit cooler, with highs mainly in the upper 50s to low 60s. Winds picking up late.
Overnight: After midnight, light rain will dust the Salinas Valley and southern Monterey County, with some drizzle on the coast around Monterey Bay and parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Lows will sit in the high 40s to low 50s across the region.
Thursday: Light showers for the early morning commute, especially for the Salinas Valley and southern Monterey County. Skies will then become mostly clear with breezy conditions and highs in the 50s for both inland and coastal locations.
Extended: Clear conditions and temperatures in the 50s will stick around through Saturday. Frost is likely for inland valleys Friday night into Saturday morning, and is even possible for parts of the coast. The next system will begin approaching by Sunday into Monday with perhaps better rain chances.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 38ºF
HIGH: 62ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for December 15th – 21st calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast into Winter: Weak La Niña
-Area drought status: “Extreme Drought” for the entire viewing area with the far southeastern corner of Monterey County and far eastern San Benito County considered “Exceptional Drought”
