Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Eureka, CA
Issued by NWS Eureka, CA
814 FXUS66 KEKA 212215 AFDEKA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Eureka CA 315 PM PDT Tue May 21 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Slightly below normal interior temperatures are expected through the weekend. Gusty northwest winds will persist today and diminish some on Wednesday. At the coast low clouds, fog and drizzle are expected to return tonight and will be intermittent through the week. && .DISCUSSION...An upper level low in British Columbia is dropping southeast into the Pacific Northwest. This is expected to bring fog and low clouds to the coast tonight. This trailing frontal boundary is expected to be dry this far south, but it may provide some lift to the marine layer and bring some drizzle to the coast. Wednesday this will bring cooler temperatures to the inland area and the coastal stratus may struggle to clear out. Highs in the interior are expected to only be in the low 70s while the coast may see highs only in the mid 50s. Winds will diminish on Wednesday as well, especially in the north. Thursday and Friday is expected to see a slight rebound in the interior temperatures with highs in the mid to upper 70s. Some clouds are expected to linger at the coast. The offshore flow isn`t showing a very strong signal, but with the moderately cool temperatures aloft this should weaken the inversion and that may allow some clearing each afternoon. Saturday another upper level low drops down from the northwest bringing cooler inland temperatures, highs only in the low to mid 70s in the interior. There isn`t a strong signal for offshore flow so stratus is expected to persist. The inversion may be weak enough for some clearing at the coast during the day, but its not expected to last through the night. Sunday and Monday the NBM is showing temperatures warming back into the 80s in the interior. MKK && .AVIATION...Mostly SKC and unlimited Vis prevailed across the region and TAF sites today; the exception was some scattered stratus reported at ACV...and a very brief bout of BKN010 due to sea spray. Gusty northerly winds (especially at CEC) were slower to develop today and were not as robust as the previous day. A plethora of mixed clouds were situated well off the coast, and will most likely slide onshore through the night. The clouds will be enhanced by the tail-end of a cold front expected to impact the coastal terminals Wednesday morning. ACV and CEC are expected to experience MVFR/IFR conditions with the possibility of light drizzle. Above ground winds will increase near the ACV airport producing the threat of marginal LLWS. Following the unremarkable frontal passage, conditions should improve to VFR and coastal surface winds will increase Wednesday afternoon. /TAA && .MARINE...The steep waves and strong winds have started to diminish this afternoon and these will continue to diminish tonight and Wednesday morning. These will increase again Wednesday afternoon. They are not expected to be as strong as they have been the last few days, but gale force gusts remain possible south of Cape Mendocino. These stronger winds are expected to persist into Thursday. At this point it is uncertain if a Gale warning will be need in the southern waters. It looks like it will be marginal in most areas aside from immediately south of Cape MEndocino. Friday and Saturday models are showing winds dropping to 15 to 20 kt and are expected to continue to drip Sunday and Monday. MKK && .EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA... None. NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for PZZ450. Hazardous Seas Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for PZZ455. Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for PZZ470. Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for PZZ475. && $$ 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