Latest news with #MayGray
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat wave headed to SLO County after a sunny, breezy Memorial Day weekend
A live data feed from the National Weather Service containing official weather warnings, watches, and advisory statements. Tap warning areas for more details. Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service, NOAA GeoPlatform and Esri. Open Steve Wilson swilson@ San Luis Obispo County can expect a mild, windy and sunny Memorial Day weekend, followed by 'May Gray' weather during the week. A pattern of strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds developing during the afternoon and decreasing during the night and morning will continue through Memorial Day. These winds will produce primarily clear skies, except for low marine clouds with pockets of fog and mist at night and in the morning. Temperatures will remain mild. Inland valleys like Paso Robles will warm into the low 80s, while coastal valleys such as San Luis Obispo will reach the low 70s. Most beaches will see highs in the 50s to low 60s, though southerly facing beaches like Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach could climb into the low 70s thanks to these downslope winds. The northwesterly winds will decrease on Tuesday and Wednesday to moderate-to-fresh (13 to 24 mph) levels, further lowering to gentle-to-moderate (8 to 18 mph) levels on Thursday into the following weekend. This condition and increasing inland valley temperatures will produce a deep marine layer with night and morning fog and mist, with some clearing along the shoreline in the afternoon, known as 'May Gray.' Away from the ocean, high pressure expanding from the desert will produce the first triple-digit temperatures of 2025 at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport on Friday and Saturday. The record daily high at the airport is 102 degrees on Friday and 106 on Saturday, which could both be broken by this week's temperatures — forecast to reach 102 on Friday and 107 on Saturday. Closer to the ocean, San Luis Obispo is expected to reach the low to mid-80s, while all the beaches will range from the high 50s to the low 60s under cloudy skies. Over this period, the Central Valley could see temperatures ranging between 110 and 115 degrees. Looking further ahead, long-range models indicate that dry conditions will continue through the end of June. Gale-force northwesterly winds along the California coastline will generate a 6- to 8-foot northwesterly (305-degree deep water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 9-second period) on Saturday through Memorial Day. A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (295-degree deep water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 11- second period) is forecast on Tuesday, decreasing to 3 to 5 feet (with an 8- to 11-second period) on Wednesday and remaining at this level through next Saturday. A 1- to 3-foot southern hemisphere (205-degree deep water) swell (with a 15- to 18- second period) will arrive along our coastline on Saturday and remain at this level through Tuesday, gradually fading away on Wednesday. On June 1 and 2, the highest southern hemisphere swell of the year is expected to arrive at our coastline, at 3- to 5-feet (with an 18- to 22-second period) from 200 degrees. Surface seawater temperatures will range between 49 and 51 degrees through Tuesday, gradually warming through next weekend. 1917: A tornado ripped through southeast Kansas, traveling 65 mph and setting a record for the average speed of any tornado. 1989: Thunderstorms developing ahead of a strong cold front produced severe weather from Oklahoma to Ohio through the day and night. Thunderstorms spawned nine tornadoes, and there were 155 reports of large hail and damaging winds. Hail 3.5 inches in diameter was reported at Dittmer, Missouri, and thunderstorm winds gusting to 90 mph caused $20 million at Rockville, Indiana. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) 2018: A late-season, low-pressure system centered over the Bay Area produced light rain showers throughout the Central Coast. LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 47, 83 47, 81 49, 83 50, 82 51, 89 55, 102 57, 107 55, 97 LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 49, 70 49, 72 51, 71 52, 75 54, 77 57, 81 58, 84 54, 81 John Lindsey is a retired PG&E marine meteorologist. Email him at JohnLindseyLosOsos@ or follow him on X @PGE_John.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ready for ‘May gray'? SLO County weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies
A live data feed from the National Weather Service containing official weather warnings, watches, and advisory statements. Tap warning areas for more details. Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service, NOAA GeoPlatform and Esri. Open Steve Wilson swilson@ The windy and cloudy weekend will give way to typical 'May gray' conditions along the coast as winds diminish from Monday through Thursday. The 2024–25 rain season, measured from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, is rapidly drawing to a close, with little change expected in seasonal rainfall totals. In a textbook La Niña pattern, most of the Central Coast received only 50% to 60% of normal rainfall. One notable exception was Rocky Butte, in the northwestern corner of San Luis Obispo County, which reached 90% of its seasonal average. By the end of April: The Paso Robles Municipal Airport received 7.1 inches of rain — 61% of the average. The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport recorded 11.2 inches — 64% of the average. The Santa Maria Airport measured 7 inches of rain — 58% of average. The Santa Barbara Municipal Airport also logged 7 inches of rain, but that equated to just 51% of its seasonal norm. A mostly dry cold front was forecast to pass through the Central Coast on Saturday morning. In its wake, a steep pressure gradient was expected along the California coastline, bringing moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph) northwesterly winds in the coastal regions Saturday afternoon and evening. These winds will decrease to gale-force levels on Sunday, producing mostly clear to partly cloudy clear skies with a few scattered rain showers in the inland areas. Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds will develop Sunday morning and will produce clear skies throughout the Central Coast and warmer air temperatures, followed by strong to gale-force (25 to 32 mph) northwesterly winds Sunday afternoon and evening. A Catalina Eddy is expected to create gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) northwesterly winds and will allow the marine layer with areas of fog and mist (May Gray) to develop in the coastal regions on Monday through Thursday. Away from the ocean, the inland valleys (Paso Robles) will reach into the low to mid-80s, while the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo) will remain in the mid-70s. The beaches this afternoon will range between the high 50s to the low 60s. Strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds will produce mostly clear skies throughout the Central Coast next Friday and Saturday afternoon. Long-range numerical models suggest a dry weather pattern through the third week of May. However, forecasting springtime precipitation is notoriously tricky — longer days and increased sunshine add instability to the atmosphere, allowing weather patterns to shift rapidly. Moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph) northwesterly winds along the California coastline will generate a 12- to 14-foot northwesterly (310-degree deep water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 11-second period) on Saturday, decreasing to 9 to 11 feet on Sunday. A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (290-degree deep water) swell (with an 8- to 12-second period) is forecast along our coastline on Monday, decreasing to 3 to 5 feet (with an 8- to 11-second period) on Tuesday into Friday morning. Increasing northwesterly winds will generate increasing northwesterly sea and swell on Friday afternoon through next week. Combined with this northwesterly sea and swell will be a 2- to 3-foot Southern Hemisphere (210-degree deep water) swell (with a 14- to 18-second period) on Sunday into Friday. Surface seawater temperatures will range between 49 and 52 degrees through Sunday, increasing to 52 to 54 degrees on Monday through Friday. 1812: A storm produced snow from Philadelphia to Maine. One foot of snow fell near Keene, New Hampshire, while 9 inches of snow fell on Waltham, Massachusetts, which is located near Boston. (David Ludlum) 2015: Wave heights across south facing beaches in the Southern California Bight reached well over 12-feet-tall. Overall, this was one of the larger Southern Hemisphere swells over the past few years. LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 43, 70 45, 72 46, 72 47, 77 49, 83 50, 85 51, 85 51, 86 LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 45, 64 48, 65 50, 67 51, 70 52, 74 53, 75 54, 76 54, 77 John Lindsey is a retired PG&E marine meteorologist. Email him at JohnLindseyLosOsos@ or follow him on X @PGE_John.
San Francisco Chronicle
01-05-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
California forecast models show unsettled weather pattern could persist through mid-May
A lingering upper-level trough will keep California locked in a springtime pattern of cooler than average temperatures, scattered showers and occasional high-elevation snow through at least mid-May. The setup, a continuation of the same broad-scale pattern that made April cooler and drier than normal, remains unusually far south for this time of year, said Scott Handel, a forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. 'The flow is cut off from the main storm track, which is why we're seeing this kind of unsettled weather reach deeper into California than usual for May,' Handel said. That pattern won't ease quickly. Forecast models suggest a ridge will build across the central and eastern U.S., reinforcing a trough along the West Coast and keeping much of California in a cooler, more unstable regime through the first half of the month. Across California, temperatures will stay below seasonal averages for much of the state during the first part of May, especially in the northern part of the state. Inland highs in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys will see days with temperatures in the 70s to low 80s, while coastal areas will often stay stuck in the 50s and 60s. Southern California will be milder overall, especially away from the coast, with interior highs reaching well into the 80s at times, but nothing especially hot by May standards. 'It's going to be a cooler and more unsettled pattern for much of the West, and definitely cooler than normal for this time of year across California,' Handel said. The pattern for the first half of the month will also allow for periodic precipitation. Most of it will be light, with occasional showers or isolated thunderstorms across the northern half of the state and the Sierra. Snow levels may dip below 6,500 feet at times, with light accumulations over higher passes. With cold air aloft and weak disturbances rotating around the trough, day-to-day instability could linger through the second week of the month. Still, May systems tend to be moisture-starved as the jet stream begins its seasonal retreat north. Cloud cover will remain a persistent feature near the coast, with a deeper marine layer settling in at times. In Southern California, ' May Gray ' conditions could be particularly stubborn, with low clouds pushing inland overnight and slow to clear, if at all, during the day. By mid-month, the larger-scale pattern should begin to shift, but not cleanly. High pressure is expected to build across the desert Southwest, bringing gradual inland warming to parts of California. But some long-range ensemble guidance suggests a weaker trough could linger offshore, limiting inland heat and reinforcing coastal marine clouds. 'That could still feed some unsettled weather along the West Coast. But given the time of year, that's more likely the farther north you go. It could be a transition period from this unseasonably cool, unsettled pattern to a more normal scenario," Handel said. By late May, long range models point to a gradual drying and warming trend, but not the sharp seasonal handoff that California sometimes sees. Even as inland temperatures rise, that warming will likely reinforce coastal cloudiness by increasing the contrast between land and ocean temperatures. However, confidence remains low for the final stretch of the month. Model guidance diverges on whether California might get one last brush of unsettled weather or simply slide into a familiar late-spring rhythm. A sustained heat wave doesn't look likely, but brief warm spells are possible, especially if high pressure strengthens inland and drives temperatures into the 90s for a few days. 'We're seeing a lot of model spread as we get toward the end of the month,' Handel said. 'There's no strong signal right now for a major warmup or a return to storminess. That means California's transition into summer may not come with a clear break, just a gradual shift, with inland heat building and coastal clouds hanging on a little longer each day.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Southern California in a cool, rainy pattern for the next week — if not longer
It's not even April yet, but Angelenos may be getting an early taste of May Gray and June Gloom over the next several days. Forecasters are predicting a significant stretch of below-average temperatures with a chance for precipitation. 'It's going to be at least a week — eight or nine days — of this off-and-on rainy and cool pattern," said Mike Wofford, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. 'We're going to be cooler than normal probably through next week, so get used it." Temperatures are expected to remain in the 60s, several degrees below normal, for the next week or so. The average for this time of year is around 71 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, Wofford said. Friday's high was expected to reach 66 degrees, before falling over the weekend. 'We're running anywhere from about 3 to 8 degrees below normal, and it's going to stay that way or even get a little cooler," Wofford said. A series of storms from the Pacific Northwest are driving this cool, cloudy and wet pattern, the first of which could draw precipitation into the Southland by Sunday. But it's only supposed to bring light rain, possibly up to a tenth of an inch in some areas, Wofford said. And even though there's a chance for more storms next week, he said it's unlikely any would bring the week's total above half an inch. However, with the forecast still a bit uncertain, the possibility for some heavy rainfall is not completely ruled out, according to the weather service modeling. Though the rainfall is a particularly dreary start for April, the shift in weather could bring some relief to Southern California's dry landscape, which remains in severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
Southern California in a cool, rainy pattern for the next week — if not longer
It's not even April yet, but Angelenos may be getting an early taste of May Gray and June Gloom over the next several days. Forecasters are predicting a significant stretch of below-average temperatures with a chance for precipitation. 'It's going to be at least a week — eight or nine days — of this off-and-on rainy and cool pattern,' said Mike Wofford, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. 'We're going to be cooler than normal probably through next week, so get used it.' Temperatures are expected to remain in the 60s, several degrees below normal, for the next week or so. The average for this time of year is around 71 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, Wofford said. Friday's high was expected to reach 66 degrees, before falling over the weekend. 'We're running anywhere from about 3 to 8 degrees below normal, and it's going to stay that way or even get a little cooler,' Wofford said. A series of storms from the Pacific Northwest are driving this cool, cloudy and wet pattern, the first of which could draw precipitation into the Southland by Sunday. But it's only supposed to bring light rain, possibly up to a tenth of an inch in some areas, Wofford said. And even though there's a chance for more storms next week, he said it's unlikely any would bring the week's total above half an inch. However, with the forecast still a bit uncertain, the possibility for some heavy rainfall is not completely ruled out, according to the weather service modeling. Though the rainfall is a particularly dreary start for April, the shift in weather could bring some relief to Southern California's dry landscape, which remains in severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
