Cloudy, Cool, Damp Monday
Cooler and cloudier as we enter the work week. A weather system passing to our north along with the tail end of a long-passed system will keep extra clouds in the forecast for Monday. A few sprinkles can’t be ruled out. While temperatures initially cool, high pressure quickly rebuilds Tuesday in to Wednesday with highs heading back above normal.
Air Quality: Good
Monday: Partly to mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles, and at most, a very light shower possible (mainly in the north). Windy up valleys in the afternoon. Cooler, with highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s on the coast and low 60s to mid-70s inland.
*BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT*
… for Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast, in effect late Monday night through late Tuesday night.
*A long period westerly swell will result in an increased risk of sneaker waves and rip currents. Breaking waves of 15 to 18 feet along west and northwest facing beaches.
*Sneaker waves can unexpectedly run significantly farther up the beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties. These waves can suddenly knock people off their feet and quickly pull them into the cold ocean waters, where currents will be stronger than normal. These waves can also carry driftwood logs and other debris.
*Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions.
Overnight: Low clouds will thicken. Partly to mostly cloudy conditions, with slightly cooler lows in the 40s, low 50s near the coast, and far interior valleys in the upper 30s. Areas of fog and patchy light drizzle possible. Calm winds.
Tuesday: Morning clouds, becoming mostly sunny by afternoon. Slightly warmer and breezy out of the north-northwest. Highs in the 60s to around 70ºF on the coast and mid-60s to mid-70s inland.
Extended: High pressure strengthens over the region on Wednesday, sending high temperatures well above normal. The warm air mass will then remain in place on Thursday, even as a weak cut-off weather system approaches from the west. There is a slight chance of rain late Thursday if the low makes it to the coast near us—though it may miss completely. A second, stronger low will approach the coast this weekend, providing perhaps better rain chances in the Sunday/Monday time period.
*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.
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This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 44ºF
HIGH: 62ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 40ºF
HIGH: 64ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for March 3rd – 9th calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: La Niña persists into spring, then transitions to neutral by summer.
- Area drought status: Moderate drought for eastern San Benito County and far southeastern Monterey County. Abnormally dry for the remainder of the viewing area.
Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature as of February 24th 55.2ºF (avg of 7 buoys)
[February Avg. SST: 54.9ºF]
