SLO County weather forecast for the week of Jan. 16

Here is this week’s weather forecast by PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.

Fair weather is forecast to continue for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday into Tuesday, as a high-pressure ridge remains over California and produces moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) Santa Lucia (offshore) winds during the night and morning hours. However, with abundant moisture from the recent rain, dense ground fog will continue to form in the San Joaquin Valley during the night and morning hours.

Clouds should increase across the Central Coast on Wednesday, as the high-pressure ridge responsible for the dry weather this weekend shifts southward in response to a trough of low pressure over the eastern Pacific. Vigorous upper-level winds are expected to draw in a plume of subtropical moisture commonly referred to as an atmospheric river.

Longer-range models indicate moderate to heavy rain and strong to gale-force (25 to 38 mph) southerly winds will develop Wednesday night into Thursday morning. A break in the weather looks possible Thursday afternoon and night, before a strong Pacific storm moves in Friday with moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph with gusts to 50 mph) southerly winds, heavy rain and mountain snow.

Cold and unsettled conditions are expected to continue through the following weekend into next Monday, with significant snow possible in the Sierra Nevada. Total rainfall amounts from Wednesday night into next Monday are forecast to range between 4 and 6 inches, with higher amounts in the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Surf report

A 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 17-second period) will arrive along our coastline on Monday into Tuesday. A 6- to 8-foot northwesterly (290-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 7- to 14-second period) is forecast along our coastline Wednesday.

A 9- to 11-foot westerly (270-degree, deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 13-second period) will arrive along our coastline Thursday, increasing to 14 to 16 feet (with a 7- to 18-second period) Friday into next Sunday.

Seawater temperatures

Seawater temperatures will range between 55 and 57 degrees through Friday.

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This week’s PG&E safety tips: At PG&E, the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. Never touch a downed power line or go near one. Power lines are not insulated like power cords. Always assume the power line is live. Do not touch anything or anyone in contact with a fallen power line or other equipment, and keep children and pets away from fallen electric wires. Call 911 immediately to report a fallen power line.

This story was originally published January 15, 2017 at 5:13 PM with the headline "SLO County weather forecast for the week of Jan. 16."