Gray Start to May
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – Slightly active weather, Thursday, only for a select few. A trough from the northeast has deepend the marine layer, and will add some instability to the mix. By Thursday afternoon, cumulus clouds will build up over the southern mountains, leading to the slight chance of a shower/ thunderstorm in San Benito and Monterey counties. Cool and cloudy conditions will persist along the coast. Friday will be a fairly quiet day before another weather system arrives this weekend.
Air Quality: Good
Thursday: Low clouds retreat to the bay becoming mostly sunny inland, but remaining mostly cloudy at the coast. Some pockets of sunshine possible around Monterey and north side of the bay, but it will be brief. Highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s. To the south, cumulus clouds will pop up during the afternoon with a slight chance for a shower or thunderstorms—mainly over the mountains. Inland highs in the upper 60s to around 80ºF. Breezy westerly onshore winds at the becoming windy up valleys late in the day.
Overnight: Low clouds will increase, becoming partly to mostly cloudy. Patchy fog possible near sunrise. Calm winds with lows in the 40s to low 50s.
Friday: Partly cloudy at the coast, mostly sunny skies inland - Morning low clouds at the coast will giveaway to sunnier skies by afternoon. But, clouds will be on the increase late as a trough of low pressure starts to dig in from the north. Winds will begin to pick up. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Coastal highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
**GALE WATCH**
... for Coastal Waters from Pigeon Point to Point Pinos California out to 10 NM, in effect Saturday morning through Sunday morning.
*Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt and seas 8 to 10 ft possible.
...for Coastal Waters from Point Pinos to Point Piedras Blancas California out to 10 NM, in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday morning.
*Northwest winds 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and seas 8 to 12 ft possible.
... for the Monterey Bay in effect Saturday morning through late Saturday night.
*Northwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt possible.
*Strong winds can cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
*Mariners should consider altering plans to avoid possible hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe wind and seas.
Extended: Other than, a slight chance for a shower over the southeastern mountains, Friday is looking calm and a little sunnier. By Saturday, a deep and cold trough of low pressure moves in. Light rain will be possible, but a cold front will bring significantly colder and windier conditions to the area. Showers linger on Sunday before a warm-up into next week.
*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: 48ºF
HIGH: 65ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 44ºF
HIGH: 73ºF
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-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for May 8th – 14th calls for the likelihood of ABOVE normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
- ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- ENSO Forecast: Neutral conditions expected by April and then to persist into summer
-Area drought status: Abnormally dry for far 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 April 29th : 55.6ºF (avg. of 7 buoys) [Historic April Avg. SST: 55.1ºF]
