An Air Quality Alert will remain in place for the Central Coast through at least Friday morning as the River Fire burning in Monterey County continues to push wildfire smoke into the area. Per the alert, it's advised that residents with pre-existing health conditions limit outdoor exposure.
Mild to moderate northwesterly winds will really help push smoke from the River Fire into our area, as seen in the graphic above. Wind gusts could range from 15-25 miles per hour from Thursday afternoon through Thursday night.
The heat advisory and excessive heat warning in effect for the Central Coast are both set to expire by Thursday night as a high-pressure system begins to shift eastward. As these warnings and advisories remain in place, residents can expect another toasty day for the Central Coast. The inland valleys will range from the upper 90s to nearly 108 degrees and the coastal valleys will mainly stay within a range from the upper 80s to the upper 90s. At the coast, daytime highs will subside and be between the mid-70s and mid-80s.
There's another change on the horizon that when it comes to the forecast. Hurricane Genevieve is currently near Baja California, but as it continues its north-westward path it will downgrade to a tropical storm. By Sunday, the Central Coast has another chance of rain and thunderstorms due to remnants from Genevieve. This wet pattern could continue through Monday.
