Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds Wednesday
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - A potent cold front will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the Monterey Bay Area on Wednesday. Winds will increase through the morning hours along with the chance of rain. Rain is then likely in the afternoon and will be heavy along the cold front, which should move through the bay between 3-5PM. Gusty southerly winds will remain blustery and switch to the west after frontal passage. Then, rounds of showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will move through into Thursday.
Air Quality: Good
Wednesday: Rain becoming more persistent and moderate toward lunchtime. Southerly winds increase, becoming gusty by late morning. Moderate to heavy rain possible in the afternoon, along with the potential for a few damaging wind gusts. Street flooding possible. Widespread rain moves to the east by the evening with showers possible thereafter. Highs in the 50s to low 60s.
**WIND ADVISORY**
…for Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties in effect until 8PM Wednesday.
*South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.
*Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.
***GALE WARNING***
… for the near coastal waters from Pigeon Point to Point Piedras Blancas including Monterey Bay in effect until 9PM Wednesday.
*South winds 20 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt expected.
*Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
*Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.
Overnight: Scattered showers and a chance of a thunderstorm. Storms could produce brief heavy downpours, gusty winds, and small hail. Winds will calm but will remain occasionally gusty. Mountain snow showers likely around 3,000ft. Lows will be cool, with low to mid 40s at the coast. Mostly 30s inland.
Thursday: Rounds of showers with embedded thunderstorms possible, especially early in the day. Storms may include small hail, brief downpours, gusty winds, and lightning. Cooler with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Snow levels down to 3,000ft with more than an inch of accumulation above 4,000ft.
Extended: The next weather system then follows on Friday with more widespread light to moderate rain and brief wind gusts. Snow levels will remain low—perhaps down to 3,000ft. Showers then linger into early Saturday morning before a break for most of Saturday and most of Sunday. Another system arrives late Sunday into Monday with a cold front, then rounds of showers & storms possible.
*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: 45ºF
HIGH: 63ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 41ºF
HIGH: 66ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for March 19th – 25th 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 far southeastern Monterey County. Abnormally dry for southeastern Monterey County and eastern San Benito County. Drought-free for the remainder of the KION coverage area.
Monterey Bay Sea Surface Temperature as of March 12th: 53.8ºF (avg of 7 buoys)
[Historic March Avg. SST: 55.3ºF]
