Future Rain Chances
A few showers linger Tuesday as the most recent weather system moves east. Brief gusty winds will remain possible. Despite the rain ending, river flooding will remain possible, especially along the Salinas River. Don’t let your guard down. A weak system will move by Wednesday with light to moderate rain mainly focused in the north before we get a break on Thursday. A few more storm systems are lined up heading into the weekend.
AIR QUALITY: Good
***FLOOD WARNING***
… for the Salinas River from Bradley to around Soledad has been extended through early Wednesday afternoon.
Scattered showers this evening with some light rain Wednesday. More rain possible heading into the weekend. For the Salinas River...including Bradley, Spreckels...Moderate flooding is forecast.
** IMPACTS...At 20.0 feet, Moderate flooding occurs along the lower portions of Bradley, San Ardo, San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Soledad. Many of the secondary roads and some of the primary roads along the Salinas River will flood. Major damage to farm land along the upper Salinas River is expected.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 2:30 PM PST Tuesday the stage was 19.5 feet.
- Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 2:30 PM PST Tuesday was 19.9 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight and continue falling to 11.7 feet tomorrow afternoon.
- Flood stage is 14.0 feet.
**FLOOD WARNING***
… for the Salinas River from around Soledad to Monterey Bay from now until 10pm Tuesday.
*Minor flooding is forecast. However, a higher secondary crest is expected to occur Wednesday. Stay tuned for further updates.
*At 19.0 feet, Lowland agricultural areas will have minor flooding.
At 23.0 feet, A few homes near the Salinas River along the reach of the river gage will begin to flood. River Road near Spreckels will have minor flooding.
At 24.0 feet, The lowest areas of agricultural land along the lower portions of the Salinas River will have significant flooding. River Road will have moderate flooding. Spreckels Boulevard will begin to flood.
- At 9:00 PM PST Monday the stage was 14.5 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage (23 ft) Tuesday morning and continue rising to 24.3 feet late Tuesday morning. Additional rises are possible thereafter.
- Flood stage is 23.0 feet.
- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
23.4 feet on 03/03/1983.
**HIGH SURF ADVISORY**
… for the immediate coast of Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties in effect until 2AM Wednesday.
This replaces the HIGH SURF WARNING which is now canceled.
*Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet and dangerous rip currents.
*Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches. These waves can also move large objects such as logs, crushing anyone caught underneath.
Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.
Overnight: Isolated showers ending. Then, partly cloudy with a mix of clouds. Fog possible in low areas. Lows mainly in the 40s.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with on and off rain in the coastal mountains (especially in the north) and occasional light showers elsewhere. Highs in the 50s to low 60s. Gusty south-southeast winds at times.
Thursday: Partly cloudy and warmer. Windy at times. Highs in the 50s-60s.
Extended: Rain chances return late Friday as several systems arrive in the area. None look all that extreme, but moderate rain looks likely with it being brieflya heavy on Saturday. Rain chances continue through at least Tuesday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's normal temperatures:
--COASTAL CITIES--
LOW: 43ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
--INLAND CITIES--
LOW: 38ºF
HIGH: 61ºF
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 17th – 23rd calls for the likelihood of BELOW normal temperatures and ABOVE normal precipitation.
- El Niño/La Niña STATUS: La Niña Advisory
- Forecast: Weak La Niña continues through winter, becomes neutral by Spring
-Area drought status: Extreme drought (D3) for southern San Benito and southeastern Monterey Counties, Severe drought (D2) for the Salinas Valley to the bay and northern San Benito County, Moderate drought (D1) for Santa Cruz County and the coast and coastal mountains of Monterey County
