SLO County weather: Chilly mornings, mild afternoons on Central Coast
It may seem contradictory, but the year’s latest sunrise was on Friday, about two weeks after the first day of winter. Conversely, the earliest sunset occurred in 2021 about two weeks before the winter solstice. This can be visualized by the “equation of time” graph on a sundial.
Except for increasing long-period swell trains from powerful mid-latitude storms near the International Dateline, the atmospheric conditions will be uneventful this week with cold mornings in the North County and mild afternoons throughout the Central Coast.
A weak low-pressure system off the Central Coast will produce areas of fog and mist and gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) southerly to northwesterly (onshore) winds on Sunday into Monday. If the system moves far enough eastward, it could produce pockets of drizzle Sunday night into Monday morning.
Moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds are forecast on Tuesday, producing primarily clear skies and mild temperatures in the coastal regions. However, areas of fog will continue to develop in the inland areas during the night and morning, especially in the San Joaquin Valley.
Gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) northwesterly (onshore) winds will allow the marine layer to develop along the coastline on Wednesday into Thursday.
The long-range models continue to Indicate dry and seasonal temperatures will continue through mid-January, if not longer.
Surf report
Sunday’s 4- to 6-foot west-northwesterly (280-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 15-second period) will decrease to 3- to 5-feet (with an 11- to 14-second period) on Monday.
A 966 millibar storm with hurricane force winds near the International Dateline will generate an 8- to 10-foot west-northwesterly (280-degree, deep-water) swell (with a 16- to 18-second period) along our coastline on Tuesday through Wednesday, decreasing to 5- to 7-feet (with an 11- to 14-second period) on Thursday into Friday.
A 947 millibar storm with hurricane force winds near the International Dateline will generate a 10- to 12-foot west-northwesterly (280-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 18- to 20-second period) along our Central Coast next Saturday and Sunday.This week’s temperatures
Seawater temperatures will range between 55 and 57 degrees through Monday.
LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES
SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
34, 61 | 33, 62 | 32, 62 | 32, 67 | 34, 64 | 37, 62 | 37, 59 | 38, 61 |
LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS
SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
42, 65 | 41, 67 | 42, 67 | 41, 72 | 44, 68 | 44, 64 | 45, 63 | 45, 64 |
PG&E safety tip
Natural disasters can be devastating. Learn how to protect yourself and your family in an emergency, please visit www.pge.com
John Lindsey is PG&E’s Diablo Canyon marine meteorologist and a media relations representative. Email him at pgeweather@pge.com or follow him on Twitter @PGE_John.