Ending the Work Week With Calmer, Warmer Weather
High clouds have blanketed the Central Coast, but with a weak ridge of high pressure nudging in from the south and light (easterly) offshore winds, highs will be slightly above seasonable Friday with mid to upper 60s. Though there is some moisture aloft, don’t expect any surface precipitation. The mid and lower levels will be too dry. High pressure will continue to build and we’ll get rid of the blanket of high clouds, though a few will continue to pass through, which means more sunshine and even warmer highs Saturday with temps in the upper 60s to low 70s. Overall, expect mild conditions across the region.
The ridge is also blocking a storm system to our west and will keep it out to sea for the next couple of days. The system, or at least some of its moisture, will be drawn into the area by Sunday as a cold system sneaks down the coast from the north. This may be enough to get some showers going late Sunday, with a better chance Monday.
AIR QUALITY: Good
Friday: Widespread high clouds but warmer highs in the mid to upper 60s. A 70, or two, is possible for far interior locations. Light easterly winds around 5-10mph.
Overnight: Partly cloudy with high clouds sticking around for the first half of the night. Clouds will slowly move out of the area into dawn. Lows will be in the mid to upper 40s, with a few 30s for sheltered valleys.
Saturday: Mostly sunny with a few high clouds passing through. Afternoon highs will be warmer, yet. Expect upper 60s to low 70s.
Extended: Cooling back down with a chance of showers late Sunday, a better chance Monday. Winds also pick up as a system moves in from the north. A colder air mass will settle in for the early part of next week and we may have to watch for inland valley frost. Dryer conditions with little temperature swings will take us through the mid part of next week. Active weather returns heading into the first of March.
*Note: Any alerts from the National Weather Service in Monterey will be noted in italics above. Alerts may be edited for brevity or local clarification (in parenthesis).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 44ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 40ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for March 1st – 7th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: El Niño Advisory, La Niña Watch
- ENSO Forecast: Transition from El Niño to neutral by Spring and then to La Niña by summer.
-Area drought status: Currently drought-free
