textproduct: Eureka

KEY MESSAGES

-Breezy winds at the coast this weekend.

-Warmer and drier conditions build Sunday through early this week. -Gradual cooling and return of the marine layer late in the week.

DISCUSSION

High pressure is building in the region to bring continued breezy northerly winds Sunday and warmer temperatures into next week. The coastal temperatures will be suppressed by the cool, marine influenced air, but easing winds Monday will allow for a nice warmup. The interior valleys are expected to reach the low 90s Monday and possibly Tuesday.

Monday night into Tuesday morning the models are starting to indicate a return of the coastal low clouds. This is due to a shortwave approaching the Pacific Northwest. It is possible these clouds will hold off until Tuesday evening, but for now the winds look to be much lighter Monday night allowing stratus to form. Tuesday the marine clouds will likely clear out in the afternoon, but the marine air is still expected to make it into the western half or two thirds of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties cooling temperature by several degrees. Farther inland temperatures may continue warming be a few degrees. The shortwave and weak front may generate some light coastal drizzle late Tuesday and Wednesday, but little to no accumulating precipitation is expected.

Late in the week the ensembles are in general agreement that an upper level trough will approach the area. The clusters show some discrepancies on the strength and timing. The fastest and deepest cluster brings some light rain to the area on Saturday while the rest of them keep it farther to the north. The NBM shows a 10 to 30 percent chance of a tenth of an inch in northern Humboldt and Del Norte counties on the next weekend. MKK/JJW

AVIATION

Northerly winds have mixed out much of the lower level moisture leaving mostly VFR conditions early Sunday morning. Some moisture pooling is allowing for some lingering stratus around Humboldt Bay and the Eel River delta, which may periodically near ACV. There is a low (30%) chance for IFR ceilings at this terminal from 12 to 15Z Sunday. Northerly winds increase Sunday afternoon, gusting 25 to 35 kts at the coastal terminals before easing into the evening.

MARINE

Northerly winds will continue stronger Sunday through Sunday night, with gale conditions in the outer waters, and also around Cape Mendocino and Point St George. Steep and hazardous seas are developing in response, and are expected to propagate into the inner waters periodically. A Hazardous Seas Warning has been hoisted for the northern inner waters in anticipation of this occurrence, while Gale Warnings remain for the outer zones. Conditions will improve Monday with easing winds and seas. Winds and seas will then remain low over the northern waters through mid next week, while stronger northerlies remain in the southern waters, mainly confined around Cape Mendocino. A small, long period southerly swell will slowly build in through early next week.

EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA... None. NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for PZZ450.

Hazardous Seas Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Monday for PZZ450.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for PZZ455.

Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Monday for PZZ470.

Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for PZZ475.