Storm Watch, February 2011

Ah, time for a change. We had exceptional weather most of this year, so far, but that is about to change.

From NOAA: “A COOLING TREND WILL BEGIN TOMORROW IN EARNEST ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS THE WEATHER PATTERN TAKES A SHIFT TOWARDS A MORE UNSTABLE AND COOL ONE. BY SUNDAY AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL ENHANCE THE ONSHORE FLOW AS WELL AS INCREASE CLOUD COVER OVER THE STATE. RAIN IS FORECAST TO BEGIN ACROSS THE DISTRICT BY MIDDAY MONDAY WITH A STRONGER AND COLDER SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH ON TUESDAY. A COLD UPPER TROUGH ANCHORED ALONG THE WEST COAST WILL KEEP SHOWER CHANCES IN THE FORECAST THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK AS SYSTEMS ROTATE AROUND THE UPPER TROUGH. BY WEEK`S END…A COLD UPPER LOW IS PROGGED TO SLIDE SOUTHWARD OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH LOWERING SNOW LEVELS.”

And from my SLO forecaster: “The cold front will cross the Central Coast north to south Monday night into Tuesday morning with scattered rain showers. Southerly winds will increase through the day Monday and will become gusty Monday night into Tuesday as the front passes.

Rain showers and gusty southwesterly winds will continue through Wednesday as an upper-level trough passes over our area. At this time, rainfall totals should range between 0.50 and 1.25 inches. Snow is expected across the Sierra, with snow levels initially at 6,500 feet, then dropping to 3,000 feet or possibly lower by Wednesday. Maximum temperatures late in the week next week will only range from the low to mid-50s, with minimums in the 30’s to low 40’s.

A break in the wet weather should develop on Thursday. However, another but stronger storm system is forecast to reach the Central Coast next Friday with gale force southerly winds and periods of heavy rain. Wet and cool weather could continue through the end of February, and possibly into early March.”