textproduct: Eureka

SYNOPSIS

Rain showers will wind down this evening. Gradually warmer and more summer like conditions will build in late week into the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Light to briefly moderate scattered showers have crossed the area through the day today. So far, no lightning has been observed and rainfall amounts have generally stayed between 0.1 and 0.3 inches across the area with isolated higher amounts in Del Norte County. Little more than drizzle has been observed on the southern half of the area. Drier air and clearer sky tonight may allow for some frost formation in interior valleys, though dewpoints near 40 will limit frost coverage.

A lobe of high pressure will gradually build over the area through the end of the week. This will bringing generally clear skies and steadily warming conditions, especially for the interior. Highs will likely crest near their highest of the spring so far. Most interior valleys will see highs in the mid 70s with a 15% chance of some highs over 80 in Lake and southern Mendocino Counties.

For the coast, conditions will dry through the week. High pressure will encourage a weak marine layer to form each night, but increasingly strong north winds during the day will encourage quick clearing each afternoon. Gusty north winds pushing close to shore will most likely bring some gusts close to 20 kts each afternoon near shore and locally higher gusts on ridges. There is high confidence that slightly cooler temperatures will return by early next week as high pressure weakens, but there is little chance of wetting rain until late next week at least when about 20% of ensemble models show a weak trough crossing the area. /JHW

AVIATION

Generally VFR conditions are expected today, with the occasional drop to MVFR with a passing rain shower. Showers will taper off overnight and bring more consistent VFR conditions. Gusty northerly winds are forecast at all terminals this afternoon, but winds will ease overnight. Offshore winds overnight are expected to keep widespread stratus from forming, outside some of the fog prone river valleys. Patchy ground fog could bring brief impacts to the terminals overnight. JB

MARINE

Winds have turned northerly and have started to increase as high pressure begins to build in. Widespread wind gusts of 20 to 30 kts are likely by this evening and into Thursday. Winds continue to increase to gale force by Thursday morning south of Cape Mendocino and by Thursday afternoon north of Cape Mendocino. Generally, winds nearshore will ease somewhat overnight, likely below gales, but could strengthen to gale force gusts again in the afternoons. On Saturday the strongest winds move farther from shore, with gales remaining likely in the outer waters but with much lighter winds expected in the inner waters. Gale force winds may continue in the outer waters through mid next week.

Seas have also started to build as winds start to increase. Wind waves along with a mid-period northwest swell arriving tonight will bring combined seas of 10 to 13 ft by Thursday. Seas will generally remain elevated through Friday, but could drop below 6 ft in the nearshore waters this weekend. JB

EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA... Frost Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Thursday for CAZ110-111-114.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Small Craft Advisory until noon PST Thursday for PZZ450-470.

Gale Warning from noon Thursday to 3 AM PST Friday for PZZ450.

Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM PST Thursday for PZZ455-475.

Gale Warning from 7 AM Thursday to 10 PM PST Friday for PZZ455.

Gale Warning from noon Thursday to 3 AM PST Saturday for PZZ470.

Gale Warning from 7 AM Thursday to 10 AM PST Saturday for PZZ475.