SLO County weather forecast for the week of July 5: Strong winds, warmer temperatures

A trough of low pressure recently produced gentle winds, warmer seawater, a stubborn marine layer with night and morning fog and mist and below seasonal temperatures.

This upcoming week will see a major change in the weather pattern as a ridge of high pressure builds over the Central Coast and creates gale-force northwesterly winds along the coastline, a colder ocean, mostly clear skies and above seasonal temperatures.

This Fourth of July weekend will see much warmer inland temperatures.

Paso Robles will reach the triple-digit levels, while San Luis Obispo will hit the 80s on Saturday and Sunday. Along the San Luis Obispo County coastline, strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds will produce a greater amount of clearing.

Moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph) northwesterly winds are forecast on Monday through Tuesday. These winds will mix out the marine layer, leaving behind mostly clear skies along the beaches and warm temperatures along the southerly facing beaches (Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach), while the northwesterly facing beaches (Morro Bay and Los Osos) will remain cool.

The long-range forecast models suggest a warming trend could develop next weekend as high pressure builds in from the desert Southwest with temperatures away from the coast rising to around 5- and 10-degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

The warm and dry summer pattern could continue into the following week with triple-digit temperatures possible in the North County and perhaps a few of the coastal valleys as well.

Seawater temperatures will range between 54 and 56 degrees Fahreinheit on Sunday, decreasing to 50 to 54 degrees on Monday through Friday.

Surf report

A 7- to 9-foot northwesterly (315-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 9-second period) will develop our coastline on Saturday afternoon and night, increasing to 8 to 10 feet with the same period on Sunday through Tuesday. This northwesterly sea and swell will decrease to 5- to 7-feet (with a 5- to 8-second period) on Wednesday and will remain at this level through Friday.

Saturday and Sunday’s 3 – to 5-foot Southern Hemisphere (195-degree, deep- water) swell (with a 15 to 17-second period) will coincide with a 6.6-foot-high tide. This swell will gradually decrease Monday and Tuesday.

This week’s temperatures

Inland Temperatures, Paso Robles

Coastal Valleys Temperatures, San Luis Obispo

PG&E Safety Tip

Warmer weather is on the way and here are some heat safety tips.

Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15. Reapply sunscreen often. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol or caffeine when temperatures are high.

During hot weather, watch for signs of heatstroke: hot-red skin, changes in consciousness, rapid weak pulse, or rapid shallow breathing. If you suspect someone is suffering from heatstroke, call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place. Use cold towels to help lower their body temperature until help arrives.