Good Morning Central Coast!
As we kick off Tuesday temperatures, especially in the interior valleys are much cooler than in previous days. This is partially due to more expansive marine air intruding into the interiors and partially due to some weakening of the driving high pressure allowing for winds to turn onshore pushing more of that cooler air into the region.
Marine influence and clouds near the coast are the biggest forecast changer over the next few days as temps cool down, especially inland.
The marine layer is significantly deeper than it was in the past few days. Due to local topography, a marine layer depth of more than 1500 feet is important in that it allows more cool air to get into the interior valleys. If the marine layer is lower than that inland valleys temps get hot. Tuesday and Wednesday the marine layer is just over the 1500 ft threshold, this allows some of our interior valleys to cool dramatically as compared to Mondays temperatures.
At the coast winds are slower than they have been and that is reducing the rate that marine clouds mix out. When you know the winds are lighter and weakly onshore you can expect some stubborn clearing. And remember that clouds clearing doesn't necessarily mean warm weather, marine layer is often co-mingled with marine clouds. You can have the first without the second. I expect beaches to be in the 60s the next few days with some stubborn clearing, perhaps incomplete. Coastal valleys likely see early clouds with clearing but will stay cool in the lower 70s. Inland temps will drop into the 80s and lower 90s.
This cooler weather doesn't last long. Inland temps quickly shoot back into the triple digits Thursday to Sunday. Early next week the temperatures will still be hot but will likely back off a little. A little warmer at the coastal valleys as well but just by 5 degrees or so. Beaches remain in the 60s due to ample marine presence.
The 8-14 day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center offers some hope for interior areas, the outlook is for roughly average heat (which is still 90+). Long runs of extreme heat would be a concern with drought conditions and also elevated fire risk.
Have a great day Central Coast!
