![National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/build/images/header/noaa.d87e0251.png)
![National Weather Service](/build/images/header/nws.4e6585d8.png)
![United States Department of Commerce](/build/images/header/doc.b38ba91a.png)
Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Eureka, CA
Issued by NWS Eureka, CA
366 FXUS66 KEKA 202151 AFDEKA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Eureka CA 251 PM PDT Thu Jun 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Dry weather is expected for the foreseeable future. Interior heat will build Friday through Saturday, followed by slow moderation early to mid next week. && .DISCUSSION...Visible satellite imagery clearly showed an extensive field of stratus offshore over the coastal waters this afternoon. A couple of clear areas have been opening up in the lee of Cape Blanco and in the lee of Cape Mendocino. Stratus has also been slowly eroding westward toward the shoreline with the daytime heating and mixing. With such an extensive field of low clouds offshore and a steady northerly influx of cool-damp marine air underneath a solid inversion, clearer skies for coastal sites north of Cape Mendocino will probably not last as stratus regenerates by mid evening. This is a typical summer pattern. This persistent stratus pattern will continue through the weekend and probably into early next week until the inversion lifts and/or weakens or stronger offshore flow develops. So far there are no clear signals for either and will hedge the forecast toward the climatology and persistence. Otherwise, interior temperatures will continue to climb over the next two days with 100F degree heat probable for the warmest interior valleys. Saturday will most likely be the hottest day with temperatures topping out around 98-104F in Lake, Trinity and interior Mendocino counties. The heat is forecast to diminish on Sunday, but it will still be hot with highs in the upper 90`s to around 100F, mostly in Trinity county. NBM remains consistent with temperatures trending down around mid next week as another trough digs offshore over the NE Pacific and eventually approaches the west coast. There are signs for stronger ridging from the SW with 500mb heights pumping up above 588DM early next week. Thus, the downward trend of temperatures may end turning into another warm up with high temps around 100F or more for out hot interior valleys. By Thu, only about 6% of ensemble members support this warmer scenario persisting past Wednesday. Otherwise, interior temps will most likely remain well above normal next week. DB && .AVIATION...The coastal marine stratus has continued to cling to much of the coast today...with few breaks/streaks as distinguished on Visual Satellite Imagery. Several pireps (pilot reports) at the coast reported bases above 500 feet at CEC to around 1000 feet by midday at ACV (or IFR-low MVFR). Mid-late afternoon clearing or partial clearing can be expected along sections of the coast...especially in the vicinity of ACV. Low clouds will become persistent again in the evening at the terminals and will continued into early Friday. The along-the- coast pressure gradient remains meagerly tight resulting in a few afternoon breezes from ACV-CEC. A weak upper level trough is causing some higher clouds to advect across the inland areas. /TA && .MARINE...Northerly winds are forecast to reach around 20 to 30 kts in the outer waters each afternoon through this weekend. Short period waves are expected to propagate into the southern inner waters from the stronger winds occurring in the lee of Cape Mendocino. Localized Gale Force gusts are likely to return to the outer waters Friday afternoon, primarily in the usual spots near Pt St George and directly downwind of Cape Mendocino. Seas will remain steep through the week due to the local winds, especially in the outer waters. A couple minor swells below 2 ft move through over the next few days, otherwise the sea state remains dominated by local wind waves. Northerlies may weaken by mid next week. TDJ && .EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA... None. NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Friday for PZZ455-470- 475. && $$ Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka For forecast zone information see the forecast zone map online: https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png