Latest WEATHER ALERTS & Conditions
AIR QUALITY:
GOOD for all reporting stations
WEATHER STORY
The second strong storm system of the year is beginning to wind down in our area. Still, some impacts will remain through the overnight including the potential for brief heavy rain and high surf. Cold air moving in will lower snow levels to 4,000ft by dawn and perhaps even lower into Tuesday afternoon. Along with this cold air, the atmosphere will become more unstable. Showers will continue to move in off the ocean and a few may be strong enough to have lightning and small hail. Shower chances will then continue into early Wednesday morning before ending. Another weather system will follow early Thursday morning with widespread light to moderate rain before we get a few days break.
**HIGH SURF ADVISORY**
in effect until 10AM Wednesday for the immediate coast of Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties.
-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.
-Highest risk at west to northwest facing beaches
-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.
-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.
A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents, localized beach erosion and sneaker waves.
Overnight: Widespread rain breaks into showers after midnight. Showers may contain brief downpours, small hail, and even lightning. Snow levels drop to 4,000ft. Lows mainly in the 40s. Breezy at times.
Tuesday: Becoming partly cloudy with an isolated shower possible. Showers may contain brief downpours, small hail, brief wind gusts, and lightning. Cool & breezy with highs in the 40s to low 50s. Snow levels drop to 3,500ft.
Wednesday: A few final showers drift through overnight with snow levels bottoming out at around 3,000ft. Then, skies become partly cloudy with another cool & breezy day. Highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Clouds increase late.
Extended: Rain arrives again early Thursday morning with light to moderate rain expected, favoring the coastal hills. Then, we’ll get some clearing with dry conditions expected into and through the weekend. Rain is looking likely again early next week. Highs will remain at or below normal for this time of year and mornings will be chilly
*Alerts in italicized text come from the National Weather Service, but may be reformatted.
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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 21st – 27th 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”
