Good morning, Central Coast!
After days of above-normal heat, Mother Nature is finally giving us some relief! The marine layer is making a strong comeback this morning, bringing that familiar coastal gray to many areas and setting us up for a much cooler week ahead.
Dense fog is hugging the coast from San Simeon to our South Coast this morning, with visibility dropping to near zero in some spots (especially by the Harris Grade). If you're commuting and the visibility falls today, take it slow and keep those headlights on. The marine layer is about 800 feet deep and should start lifting by late morning, though some beaches may stay socked in longer than our coastal valleys.
The Big Picture: We're in for a significant cooling trend as that ridge of high pressure finally weakens. Today most of our inland valleys from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara will see temperatures drop to below normal, that's a welcome change after being above average nearly every day since mid-July! Here is a look at the high temps we can expect Tuesday.
We have one active alert: a Coastal Flood Advisory in effect from 6 PM tonight through Wednesday night for our south coast beaches. High astronomical tides up to 7.5 feet combined with southerly swells could cause minor flooding in low-lying coastal areas, parking lots, and walkways. Point Dume and Long Beach areas are most susceptible.
The marine layer will become more robust through midweek, with coastal clouds pushing into the Santa Ynez Valley, Cuyama Valley, and even reaching Atascadero by Wednesday morning. Some beaches may not clear at all Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
There's still a slight chance (10-15%) of afternoon thunderstorms over the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, no concerns for us but it is something you may see as thunderheads tower.
Check your 7-day forecast below; I am excited to see those numbers dropping day by day!
Have a wonderful day, Central Coast!
-Vivian
