Good Morning Central Coast!
To start our Tuesday temperatures are a few degrees cooler than yesterday across the board. Skies are clear for the coastal valleys, slightly more marine influence is at our beaches but that is staying a non-issue. The interior valleys are the only place this morning that will see dense fog that may limit visibility on roadways.
This fog is expected to stick around until the mid morning hours. Additionally the sundowner winds along the Santa Barbara county south coast are sticking around for a little longer. The National Weather service has extended the wind advisory through 6am.
Temperatures for today will stay a bit below normal for this time of year highs in the 50s in the interiors and beaches, 60s in the coastal valleys.
Tonight temperatures will plummet, especially in the interiors. Lows are expected to drop into the upper 20s and low 30s in the interior valleys. Because of this there is a freeze watch in place through Wednesday morning in the Cuyama valley. The rest of the interiors will experience the same cold temps.
Thursday things will change as a cold front presses into the region. That cold front will bring rain to the Central Coast initially but also prime the region for a few more rain chances through the weekend. This is what the current chances are looking like.
Most major computer models agree on the timing and intensity of a rain system for Thursday. Where models differ a bit is what follows, as the system gets closer this will come into focus a bit more. Here is what I think is going to happen.
Thursday morning the cold front will bring rain to our north and make its way to us by mid day. As it moves slowly south most communities can expect some accumulating rainfall. This first section of the storm could bring a trace to half an inch of rain.
Once that initial impulse passes through the forecast becomes a lot less certain. Most models are showing scattered showers through Thursday night into Friday morning.
There looks to be a bit of a break (or just less intense rain) Friday and Saturday. This is hopefully a good sign for weekend festivities (including the downtown SLO Holiday Parade Friday night) although I do think at least some of the central coast will see rain Friday night into Saturday.
By Saturday night a secondary low pressure system will push into the region bringing more rain chances through till Monday morning.
All of these rain chances combined will bring the Central Coast (hopefully) a significant amount of rain accumulations. Storm totals look to fall between 0.5" and 2", the highest totals will be at peaks and where storm cells are able to form locally heavier rain.
Temperatures look to be in the 50s and lower 60s through the storm as well with overnight lows reaching into the low 30s.
Beyond the 7-day outlook, the Climate Prediction Center also likes cool and unsettled weather in the 8-10 day.
Have a great day Central Coast!
