Good Morning Central Coast! To kick off Monday morning there is a significant layer of fog across much of our beaches and coastal valleys. This will impact visibility for the morning commute but will clear out quickly.
Temperatures won't be too bad Monday morning as mild-ish air sticks around. Highs by afternoon will reach into the low 60s for most of the region. As winds pick up in the afternoon these temps will feel slightly cooler.
Temps today will be on the chilly side but they are still significantly warmer than any temperature through the week. The rest of the week will feature 50s and high wind gusts. pic.twitter.com/fHrgQO6VLy
— Vivian Rennie (@VivianRennieWx) February 13, 2023
Wind will begin to pick up Monday night but really intensify throughout Tuesday. There is a high wind warning in place for western Santa Barbara County and the South coast. This will going into effect at 6AM Tuesday morning and lasting through 9AM Wednesday when winds will die down.
Sustained northwest winds 25-40mph are expected with gusts possible up to 60mph. Even in areas of the Central Coast not under the wind warning Tuesday will be gusty. Take precautions, you might want to bring inside or tie down any loose objects that are prone to catching the wind.
The winds Tuesday will also help to kick off some added waves across the region. There is a High Surf Advisory in place for all of the Central Coast beaches through 10 PM Wednesday night.
Large breaking waves will reach 14to 18ft and local sets may reach 20ft. Dangerous rip currents are also expected. The high surf advisory will remain in effect through Wednesday night.
Over the next couple of days waves on the central coast will swell significantly. Large breaking waves will reach 14to 18ft and local sets may reach 20ft. Dangerous rip currents are also expected. The high surf advisory will remain in effect through Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/jUSWd6MY82
— Vivian Rennie (@VivianRennieWx) February 13, 2023
All of the cold temps, winds and high surf are brought into the region alongside a small system that is moving down the coast on a preexisting storm boundary. This inside slider will push through on Tuesday with more cloud cover and a tiny chance of light precipitation. The rain chance is by far the smallest impact of this storm and will likley be confined to the highest peaks as the topography helps squeeze the little moisture out of the system that there is. Totals will be under 0.1" in these few spots but most will not see any measurable rain.
At these highest peaks there is a small chance of flurries and a dusting of snow in the highest elevations. Snow levels, though, drop down to around 2000feet Tuesday afternoon/night.
Wednesday morning will be very cold, there is already a freeze watch in place for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as temps fall overnight. Temperatures may fall into the 20s across the region with the coldest temps felt in the interior valleys.
These cold temps may cause damage to sensitive vegetation. Take caution.
After the cold start on Wednesday skies will clear and the winds will start to calm.
For Thursday, benign weather is expected as an upper level ridge develops over the area.
For Friday and Saturday another rain chance. Very preliminary totals look to be generally small, just a few tenths of an inch at best. Snow levels looks to remain on the low side, generally in the 2500-3500 foot range, so a few traces of snowfall will be possible across the mountains. This system is a ways out still and the impacts of Tuesday's cold air will be a large player in what that system will look like. Chief Meteorologist Dave Hovde and I will keep an eye on its evolution as we near Friday.
Have a great day Central Coast
