Dry Weekend
Dry, gusty conditions will continue today. Winds will be felt mostly in the mountains but may occasionally mix down into the valleys through Sunday evening. The air mass will also be very dry, so these conditions will combine to create elevated fire danger. Luckily, while we’re still in our dry season, we’ve had a few weak systems bring some beneficial moisture to the region. This will help keep fire danger from being worse. As far as temperatures are concerned, expect chilly mornings and clear, mild afternoons through the weekend. Building high pressure next week will warm up our afternoons, but the mornings will still be chilly!
AIR QUALITY: GOOD
***RED FLAG WARNING***
… for the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains & Los Padres National Forest, and the Diablo Range (in Santa Clara County) until 5PM Sunday
* North 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Highest ridgetops and peaks may see gusts up to 60 mph.
*Minimum relative humidity as low as 15 to 20 percent on Saturday and Sunday. Poor relative humidity recoveries overnight in the 20 to 40 percent range.
* IMPACTS...The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now...or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
**Remember to "Don`t be the spark," and avoid driving vehicles or operating machinery or power tools over dry grass, as sparks could ignite fires. In addition, given that it is the Halloween weekend and many folks may be having parties with campfires or fire pits: be careful if you are having one, and make sure that fires are in an enclosed ring or pit, and have a water bucket or hose at the ready. Better yet, if you can hold off and refrain from having a fire of any sort this weekend, all the safer!
Sunday: Sunny and warmer. Coastal highs in mid 60s to low 70s with mainly 70s inland. Gusty northerly winds over the hills with occasionally breezy conditions elsewhere.
Monday: Mostly sunny with temps trending upward with coastal highs in the mid 60s to low 70s and inland high temps mid to upper 70s.
Extended: Sunny to mostly sunny skies, cool mornings, and warming afternoons can be expected into early next week. It will likely be cold enough for frost in some inland valleys, however. We’re watching the potential for a system late next week, although it the moment, it doesn’t look all that wet.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 49ºF
HIGH: 70ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 44ºF
HIGH: 76ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for November 3rd – 9th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: Strong to Very Strong El Niño expected this winter.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
