Cooler Temps, Cloudy Weather & Coastal Flooding
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) – Weak low pressure aloft will stick around for the next few days. The marine layer will remain in place on the coast but clouds may occasionally clear as the air around the low mixes through the layers. The overall air mass aloft will remain warm, so inland areas will see seasonable to slightly warm highs, but coastal areas will continue to be seasonable to slightly cool.
Air Quality: Good
This Morning: expect cool and cloudy conditions across the Central Coast, with low clouds and patchy fog lingering through the morning and possibly into the afternoon near the coast. Inland areas may see partial clearing, but temperatures will stay below normal, with highs mostly in the 60s to low 70s. Light onshore winds will continue, and minor coastal flooding is possible during evening high tides in low-lying areas near bays and sloughs.
Extended: A cool and cloudy pattern will continue through much of the week across the Central Coast, driven by a deep marine layer and persistent onshore flow. Each morning will start with low clouds, fog, and patchy drizzle, especially along the coast and in coastal valleys like Salinas and Watsonville. Inland areas may see partial afternoon clearing, but clouds will linger longer near the shore.
Daytime highs will remain below seasonal norms, with 60s along the coast and 70s to low 80s inland. Humidity will stay relatively high, especially near the coast, keeping conditions feeling damp and cool.
Evening high tides may cause minor nuisance flooding in low-lying coastal areas (like Elkhorn Slough, Santa Cruz Harbor, and Morro Bay) through Thursday, especially around sunset and overnight.
By the weekend, models suggest a slight warm-up as the trough offshore shifts and high pressure begins to rebuild over the Southwest. This could bring more sunshine and gradually warmer temperatures inland, though marine clouds will likely remain a daily feature near the coast.