textproduct: Eureka

SYNOPSIS

Light rain possible for Humboldt and Del Norte late through the weekend into early next week. King tides combined with tidal anomaly will continue to bring the threat of coastal flooding in low- lying areas around Humboldt Bay Saturday. A series of frontal systems moving north of the area will bring a chance of light rain across the northern portion of the area through the weekend.

DISCUSSION

Dense fog developed Friday evening as radiational cooling had a few hours of activity. Similar behavior is possible Saturday morning with moisture being deposited from stratiform saturated profiles near ground. The deep marine layer lifted as the cold front approached as prefaced by the previous forecasts. Light rain/drizzle is expected to continue into early next week.

High pressure continues to slowly weakening and "flattening", while a series of shortwaves trough and frontal systems embedded to the Aleutian Low continues to move toward the Pacific Northwest this weekend. Northwest flow aloft will bring additional light showers across Del Norte and Humboldt counties on Saturday. On Sunday, another shortwave and frontal system is expected to move north of our area. The flow aloft will become more zonal, bringing additional chances of light rain across the northern portion, especially for Del Norte and northern Humboldt counties. Elsewhere, partly to mostly cloud skies is expected to continue.

The 500 mb ridge appears to slowly build back early next through mid next week. WPC ensemble clusters do show about an even split (50%) of clusters that are "drier" (at least for the North Coast) than the grand ensemble mean. The ensemble mean is by no stretch very wet with 0.10-0.25 inches of rain in 24 hours everyday from Monday through Wednesday, mostly for Del Norte. It could be wet or it could be dry or both. Stay tuned. -ZVS /EYS

AVIATION...(06Z TAFS)

A front will continue through Northwest California early Saturday morning. Most of the drizzle and light rain has moved through the area, but IFR/LIFR ceilings will continue for coastal terminals of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Southeast flow ahead of another frontal passage to the north may aide in lifting ceilings and visibilities around sunrise. For areas to the south and east, including UKI, only a few high clouds are expected with generally light winds. There is around a slight chance for MVFR stratus impacts early Saturday to around sunrise at UKI Saturday. Any low clouds and fog will lift and scatter shortly after sunrise. JB

MARINE

Winds and seas continue to ease north of Cape Mendocino as a weak front moves through the area. Winds and steep seas will continue to ease early Saturday morning. Generally light winds are forecast this weekend, with south winds forecast north of Cape Mendocino and west-northwest winds forecast south of the Cape. Despite light winds, seas will elevate as a mid-period northwest swell fills in Saturday. This will peak at around 7-9 ft at 12 seconds. Wave heights peak Saturday night and early Sunday morning, and combined seas could briefly reach or exceed 10 ft. Seas subside Sunday and Monday as this swell decays. Light winds continue into early next week, but seas will remain elevated as a series of mid- period northwest swells fill in from systems to the north. JB

COASTAL FLOODING

King tides are predicted to continue this weekend. High tides are forecast to be at 8.63 feet at the North Spit tide gauge at around 11:44 AM local time. High tides combined with surge and tidal anomaly will result in water levels between 8.9 to 9.2 feet MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water). Minor coastal flooding around Humboldt Bay, including King Salmon and Jackson Ranch Road in the Arcata Bottoms, will be likely between 10 AM and 1 PM. A Coastal Flooding Advisory will be in effect from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday. High tides are predicted to be at 8.24 feet at 12:35 PM on Sunday. At this point, coastal flooding looks marginal for Sunday with high tides diminishing. -ZVS

EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA... Coastal Flood Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 1 PM PST this afternoon for CAZ103.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Coastal Flood Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 1 PM PST this afternoon for PZZ415.