Update (April 4, 2024, 10:56 a.m.) - Hello, Central Coast! We are going to have an active weather day on Friday as an upper low system is over northern California and it carries very cold and unstable air aloft.
Models have indicated that it's expected to get even colder through the day.
This will foster a ripe environment for thunderstorm development today and some lightning occurred this morning in Vandeberg at 9 a.m.
Periodic showers are expected to occur through the afternoon as there will be ample sunshine in between showers.
With the upper low over northern California, we could receive small hail, brief heavy rain, gusty winds, and the possibility of lightning from most of these storms. Steering flow is coming from the west-northwest and the storms will be moving quickly and not linger very long in one place throughout the area.
There is a chance these storms could produce minor flooding and additional mud and rock slides are possible near hilly areas.
Snow levels are quite low and are appearing in higher elevations in the region as low as 3,000 feet. Today, snow levels may be as low as 2000-2500 feet, especially near convective cells.
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Original Post (April 4, 2024, 4:29 a.m.) - Hello, Central Coast! Happy Friday. Please have a jacket and umbrella nearby because we expect periods of precipitation to move through the area today. On the bright side, this cold system is expected to dissipate late Friday night.
Here’s a look at the latest weather headlines on the Central Coast:
A cold storm will bring periods of showers and thunderstorms to California today and this evening along with much colder temperatures. There is a possibility of snow falling in higher elevations as low as 2500 feet. Luckily, this weekend will be dry and warmer. High temperatures, however, will remain below normal through Sunday and then will rise to near to above normal by midweek.
Here’s a look at the extended forecast:
The cold upper low is now in between the Bay Area and Monterey. It has started to move towards the east. This patch will keep southern California under the cyclonic flow for the day. Multiple vort lobes will spin through this flow and produce bands of showers across the region. However, there is a 15 to 25 percent chance thunderstorms could develop later this morning and continue into the afternoon as cold air aloft moves over the area and further destabilizes the atmosphere.
The rainfall total for most areas will only receive a quarter to a half inch of rain. Since this is a showery system rainfall amounts will not be very homogeneous and some areas may see only a tenth of an inch. The system will move out this evening and the shower activity will subside as will the winds. The only chance of lingering showers will be across the north slopes near the Kern county line.
While thunderstorms could produce rainfall rates above a half inch per hour, the upper-level flow is so strong that they will not be over any one location long enough to create flooding problems.
The mountains will have a mixture of hazardous weather with snow levels near 3,000 feet today. Snow may fall as low as 2,500 feet under any convective burst.
A Winter Storm Warning and a Winter Weather Advisory are in effect for most mountain areas above 3000 feet today and this evening for a combination of snow, blowing snow, gusty winds, and frigid temperatures.
These advisories and warnings are expected to end at 11 p.m. on Friday.
Gusty winds will develop this afternoon and advisory level gusts are likely across most of the coastal areas with near advisory level gusts for most of the region. Advisory-level gusts will also occur in the mountains, but winter weather advisories and warnings cover these gusts. Winds will start developing and move around 20 mph across the coastal valleys by the mid-morning hours and other areas will see wind gusts peaking over 25 mph by the late afternoon.
A Wind Advisory is in effect for Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County until 9 p.m. on Friday.
As for the high temps, today will end up only in the mid to upper 50s or 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Today's high temps would be below normal even if it were January.
Overnight lows will be well below normal with lows across the coasts and valleys in the upper 30s to lower 40s.
Here's your KSBY 7-Day forecast! Luckily, this weekend we can expect sunny and warmer conditions with warming each day. High temps will remain 6 to 12 degrees below normal.
