Bay Area residents, brace yourself for a chilly weekend and stay tuned for potential wet weather ahead. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a Frost Advisory is in effect from 10 PM PST tonight through 9 AM Sunday morning, targeting the southern and interior areas of the Central Coast and Eastern Santa Clara Hills. Bundle up, as temps are expected to plummet, especially tonight.
As the NWS gears up for the cooler conditions, they also issued a Coastal Flood Advisory active until this afternoon for parts of the San Francisco Bay area. Meanwhile, most regions can expect clear skies with highs straddling upper 50s to lower 60s, while nighttime lows could drop to mid-30s in the frost-advised regions. "Today, expecting mainly clear sky conditions with temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to the lower 60s regionwide (40s for the peaks)," stated the NWS forecast.
But don't let the serene skies fool you; change is on the horizon. Looking into the next week, the placing of a high pressure ridge signals fairly benign weather initially. However, an expected shift to a more zonal upper-level flow come midweek suggests the doors could open to what NWS calls "unsettled weather." The latter half of the week may introduce precipitation, with subsequent rounds anticipated through the following weekend, according to NWS Bay Area's X post.
Frost Advisories in effect from 10 PM PST tonight to 9 AM Sunday morning for the southern and interior portions of the Central Coast as well as the Eastern Santa Clara Hills. #CAwx #BayAreaWX pic.twitter.com/5EfweyFILi
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) February 10, 2024
For the aviators, it appears to be smooth flying with general visibility forecasted to remain VFR, though the NWS mentions a "low to medium potential (30%) for low ceiling development at KSJC." As for the seafarers, a Small Craft Advisory lingers till morning for parts off the coast, with a calm before the storm expected ethos Sunday. "Fresh northerly winds continue, with gusts creating hazardous conditions for small craft," the NWS advises.
With the Climate Prediction Center highlighting California for a high chance of above-average precipitation mid-February, it's best to enjoy this meek weather window while it lasts. Whether planning a BBQ or just enjoying the outdoors, Californians should savor the calm but stay vigilant of the impending shift to a wetter, more turbulent pattern. Keep those umbrellas at hand; winter isn't done yet.
