Opening the Sunday Stormdoor
AIR QUALITY:
GOOD to MODERATE for all areas.
WEATHER STORY
A strong storm system arrives today with light rain and breezy conditions beginning in our coastal hills. Rain and wind will then pick up overnight into Monday morning for all areas. Additional rain will be possible for the remainder of next week. We’ll also see a chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday along with lowering snow levels. There are a lot of pieces with this coming system, so please stay tuned to the forecast.
Sunday: Overcast with light rain beginning in the coastal mountains, eventually spreading into the lower elevations in the evening. Highs in the 50s to around 60ºF for most areas. Southerly winds pick up throughout the day as well, getting gusty after dark over the higher terrain and exposed coastal areas.
italicized text from the National Weather Service of the San Francisco/Monterey Bay Area..
***GALE WARNING***
9PM SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY 3PM.
* WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 kt with
gusts up to 50 kt and seas 8 to 11 feet at 15 seconds
expected.
* WHERE...Monterey Bay.
* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could
capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for severe conditions. The Coast Guard advises all
mariners to ensure that their sea vessels are tethered to port
prior to the arriving storm.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with periods of moderate to heavy rain along with gusty southerly winds.
italicized text from the National Weather Service of the San Francisco/Monterey Bay Area..
***HIGH SURF ADVISORY***
4AM MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY 10AM.
* WHAT...WNW swell of 15 to 18 feet at 15 to 17 seconds with the
approaching storm system. This will result in large breaking
waves of 20 to 25 feet in the surf zone as well as increased
coastal run up.
* WHERE...Entire Pacific Coast from Sonoma to Monterey county.
Highest risk at west to northwest facing beaches, including but
not limited to: Ocean Beach, Montara State Beach, Half Moon Bay
State Beach, Manresa State Beach, and Marina State Beach.
* IMPACTS...Breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks,
and into cold and dangerous seas where hypothermia or drowning
can occur within within a minute.
* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...Steep southerly wind waves will reduce
the intensity of these waves Sunday into early Monday before
dissipating. Larger waves are expected as winds and wind driven
southerly seas subside later Monday into Tuesday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in
the advisory area, producing rip currents, localized beach
erosion and sneaker waves.
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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 18th – 24th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE 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”
