707
FXUS66 KEKA 271914
AFDEKA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
1214 PM PDT Mon Jul 27 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Moderate risk for sneaker waves along the Lost Coast and Mendocino
  Coast through Wednesday.

* Elevated fire danger today and Tuesday for interior areas due
  to breezy afternoon winds.

* Hot temperatures return late week into the weekend.

* Coastal stratus likely to form each night and clear each
  afternoon through at least the middle of the week.


&&

.SYNOPSIS...Near to slightly below normal temperatures are likely
for the interior areas, while near to slightly above normal coastal
temperatures are likely continue through Wednesday. Breezy
afternoon winds elevate fire danger in eastern Trinity, eastern
Mendocino, and Lake counties. Hot interior temperatures return
late this week.


&&

.DISCUSSION...Warmer coastal temperatures may continue through
Wednesday this week. This is highly dependent on the persistence
of stratus into the afternoon and how early northwesterly winds
start. A weak marine inversion will allow for at least partial,
if not full, clearing in the afternoons. The Mendocino Coast will
see breezier afternoon winds which will support closer to normal
temperatures.

The troughing pattern has also brought breezy afternoon wind gusts
of 20 to 30 mph in the interior areas, mainly in the higher
elevations and channeled terrain (such as Clear Lake and the
Trinity River valley). Low afternoon relative humidities in
Trinity, eastern Mendocino, and Lake Counties along with these
winds brings an elevated fire weather threat.

There is high confidence in high pressure rebuilding over the area
later this week. NBM is showing moderate to high probabilities
for high temperatures in the triple digits for most interior
valleys starting Friday and continuing into next week. Currently,
minor to moderate HeatRisk is expected. /JB/JJW


&&

.AVIATION...Stratus has started to erode from the coast late this
morning, bringing VFR conditions to all areas. Occasional MVFR
impacts are possible for the coastal terminals this afternoon from
lingering stratus, but generally skies are expected to be mostly
clear. Stratus returns this evening and overnight bringing IFR to
MVFR ceilings. Some models do show lower ceilings and possibly fog
to the coastal areas, but confidence in that is generally low.
Breezy northwest winds are likely in the interior areas this
afternoon and evening. /JB


&&

.MARINE...The sea state is dominated by a small 3 to 5 foot long
period southerly swell and some small mid period westerly and
northerly swells. A second reinforcing long period southerly swell
will arrives Tuesday. Winds will remain very light, only up to 4
to 8 kts north of Cape Mendocino. Northerly winds strengthen 15 to
20 kts, locally up to 25 kts around the cape this afternoon.
Northerlies trend higher in all waters starting Tuesday. Localized
areas of gale conditions will develop in the expansion fan around
Cape Mendocino. /JJW


&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Breezy westerly winds will continue in the
afternoons today and Tuesday for interior areas and may be
particularly breezy with gusts of 20 to 30 mph over the ridges and
channeled terrain in eastern Trinity, northeast Mendocino, and
Lake Counties. These areas are forecast to have low afternoon RHs
in the teens and 20s. Localized and brief critical conditions are
possible with these low RHs and winds. Overnight recoveries are
expected to be good aside from the higher elevations of Lake and
eastern Trinity County.

Closer to the coast, a deep marine layer brings high RH and
perhaps stratus and/or fog into the river valleys overnight.
Afternoon RH ranges from 60s to 80s near the immediate coast to
20s to 40s in interior Humboldt, Del Norte, and western Mendocino
Counties.

Ridging rebuilds later this week into the weekend bringing much
warmer high temperatures to the interior with most valleys
forecast to reach the high 90s and triple digits. Afternoon
RHs will again be in the teens and 20s for the eastern interior.
Weak shortwaves arrive over this same period which may support
some breezier afternoons along with this heat and low afternoon
RH. Confidence is low at this time, but elevated fire weather
conditions are again possible. /JB


&&

.BEACH HAZARDS...A long period southerly swell with periods up to 20
seconds remains in from tropical systems in the Eastern Pacific. A
second reinforcing long period southerly swell will arrive Tuesday.
These energetic swells will bring a low to moderate risk of sneaker
waves that would be most hazardous on steep, south and southwest
facing beaches along the Lost Coast and Mendocino Coast.

Sneaker waves are a unique hazard, with up to 30 minutes between
waves. Large, unexpected waves can sweep across the beach without
warning, sweeping people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and
beaches. These sneaker waves can also move large objects such as
logs, crushing anyone caught underneath. Even ankle to knee deep
water can knock you down and drag you out when a sneaker wave hits.
Pay attention and stay above the high water line and any wet sand to
stay safe. If the ground is wet, waves have surged there recently.
Stay safe and never turn your back on the ocean! /JJW


&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Beach Hazards Statement through Wednesday afternoon for
     CAZ104-109.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM PDT Tuesday for PZZ455.

     Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT Wednesday for PZZ475.

&&

$$

NOTE: The full forecast discussion is now regularly issued between
10 am/pm and 1 pm/am. Additional updates will be issued as needed.

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https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png