SLO County forecast: Windy and clear weather for the next couple days

Batten down the hatches this Memorial Day weekend. After an extended period of gentle winds, a calm ocean and mostly overcast skies, a change in the weather pattern is underway.

Moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph with gusts to 55 mph) northwesterly winds are forecast on Sunday afternoon along the coastline, decreasing strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph with gusts to 45 mph) on Monday through Tuesday. These winds will produce mostly clear skies in the coastal regions on the Memorial Day weekend through Tuesday, expect for areas of marine low clouds in the coastal regions during the overnight.

High temperatures on this Memorial Day weekend will range between the low 80s in the inland valleys (Paso Robles) and low 70s in the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo). The beaches will range between the mid- to high 50s; however, the southerly facing beaches (Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach) will reach the low 70s on Sunday through Tuesday, the last days of May.

The afternoon northwesterly winds will decrease to fresh to strong (19 to 31 mph) levels on Wednesday as high pressure builds across Central California. This onshore flow will allow the marine stratus to redevelop along the coastline and move inland during the night and morning with pockets of fog and mist. Temperatures will warm to the mid-90s in the North County and low-80s in the coastal valleys. The beaches will range between the high 50s and mid-60s.

Strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) northwesterly winds, clearing skies in the coastal regions and cooler temperatures are forecast on Thursday into Friday. Naturally at this time of the year, the long-range models do not indicate any rain.

Surf report

Gale-force northwesterly winds off the Central California coastline on Saturday will generate a 4- to 6-foot (310-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 8-second period) throughout the day on Saturday. As these northwesterly gales move eastward toward the coastline of San Luis Obispo County on Sunday, the northwesterly sea and swell will build to 11- to 13-feet (with a 7- to 11-second period) on Sunday afternoon and night.

A 9- to 11-foot northwesterly (310-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 11-second period) is expected on Memorial Day, decreasing to 6- to 8-feet with the same period on Tuesday through Friday.

A 1- to 2-foot (220-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 18- to 20-second period) will arrive along our coastline from the Southern Hemisphere on Sunday, increasing to 2- to 4-feet (with a 16- to 18-second period) on Memorial Day through Wednesday.

Seawater temperatures will range between to 54 to 57 degrees through Saturday, decreasing on Sunday to 49 to 52 and remaining at this level through Friday.

This week’s temperatures

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

PG&E safety tip

This weekend’s gale-force winds could cause downed trees or branches that could be hiding a power line. Always assume all wires are energized and extremely dangerous. Don’t touch or try to move it - keep children and animals far away. Report downed lines to 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

John Lindsey’s 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.