FXUS66 KMTR 221742 AAA
AFDMTR
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
942 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
...New UPDATE...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 229 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
A parade of systems will bring compounding impacts to the Bay Area
and Central Coast. Life-threatening bay, ocean, and beach conditions
linger through next week.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 940 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
The inherited near term forecast is in good shape, with only some
minor tweaks to PoPs and Wx grids needed to address ongoing
trends.
Widespread drizzle/mist and some pockets of fog continue this
morning. Modest ascent, as inferred by traditional water vapor
imagery, ahead of the next upper trough coupled with a moist lower
troposphere continues to encourage the development of drizzle,
mist, and fog. In fact, AlertCalifornia web cameras show that even
interior portions of the East Bay are quite damp this morning
with low clouds and drizzle. I've inserted drizzle into the
forecast for most areas, except far the extreme northern portions
of the North Bay and far southern Monterey and San Benito counties
where webcams show more in the way of clouds (even some peaks of
sunshine). I anticipate that this will continue through at least
early afternoon, though there is some potential that drizzle could
linger a little later. If so, we'll make adjustments to the
worded forecast with the main afternoon forecast update.
Otherwise, our lull in actual rain showers is anticipated to
continue until late this afternoon when more numerous shower
activity begins to impact the North Bay ahead of our next system.
Tonight into Monday morning does appear that we'll see more
widespread rainfall and the details outlined in the previous
discussion remain valid.
Updated products will be transmitted soon.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 229 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
Light rain can be expected today thanks to a weak frontal boundary
across Central California which will allow for precipitation up to
0.25" in orographic lift favored locations like the East Bay
Hills, Eastern Santa Clara hills, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the
Santa Lucia Mountains. A cold front will move through tonight
providing another shot of rainfall with totals on the order of
0.25"-0.75" for the North Bay, up to 0.25" for the rest of the Bay
Area, with drizzle at best in Monterey and San Benito Counties.
A High Surf Warning will replace the High Surf Advisory at 4 PM with
life-threatening beach and ocean conditions lingering into next
week.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 229 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
Key Messages:
*Parade of storm systems through next week
*Most impactful storm appears to be Monday into Tuesday
*Rainfall totals between today and Saturday: North Bay: 2"-6",
locally up to 9", rest of the Bay Area: 1-4", Central Coast:
0.25"-1.50", locally up to 5" in the Santa Cruz Mountains and
locally up to 3" along the Big Sur Coast
*Wind gusts up to 45 mph on Tuesday
*Life-threatening beach and ocean conditions linger into next week.
A widespread impactful system will move through the region Monday
afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Rainfall totals up to 2.50" are
forecast for the higher terrain of the North Bay with a gradual
taper in rainfall amounts from north to south with higher rainfall
totals expected in higher terrain. The greatest impacts are expected
in the North Bay as portions of Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties
have been highlighted by the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) for a
marginal/at least 5% risk of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance
between 4 AM Monday and 4 AM Tuesday. This means that isolated flash
floods will be possible and that their nature will be localized and
primarily affecting places that can experience rapid runoff with
heavy rainfall. Fortunately, no mainstem river forecast points are
forecast to reach minor flood stage according to deterministic
forecasts; however, rivers and their creeks and streams will have no
problem responding quickly to rainfall. While it is too early to
issue any wind headlines, there is increasing probability of wind
gusts reaching or exceeding 45 mph during this system. Whether
southerly winds meet Wind Advisory criteria or not, soils
approaching saturation in addition to tree damage from last
weekend's storms will allow for plentiful tree debris. Isolated
thunderstorms will also be possible with this system with the Storm
Prediction Center (SPC) highlighting all counties with the exception
of Monterey and San Benito for general or non-severe thunderstorms
between 4 AM Tuesday and 4 AM Wednesday. Remember
that lightning and flooding threats exist with all thunderstorms. An
ECMWF point sounding forecast for STS at 10 AM Tuesday shows that
the environment will be that of low CAPE and high shear, but that
the parcel will have to overcome a stable lapse rate in the
850-700 mb layer.
Wednesday will be dry, giving rivers and their creeks and streams in
addition to soils a chance to somewhat dry out ahead of more
rainfall.
Another cold front moves through the region Thursday bringing
rainfall totals of up to 1.00" in the higher terrain of the North
Bay with a stout tapering of rainfall totals from north to south
with interior Monterey and San Benito County not expecting to
receive any rainfall. Friday and beyond is unfortunately where
confidence begins to wane. Global ensemble clusters are depicting
the potential for zonal flow across much of the region which would
deflect systems to the north of the region; however, there may be
just enough troughiness over the North Bay to allow for more
impactful rainfall with the help of some shortwave troughs.
&&
.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 353 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
Light rain continues across the region early this morning with most
Bay Area terminals reporting MVFR-LIFR conditions. Around the Bay
Area terminals and KLVK, MVFR conditions are being reported. Lower
visibilities are also possible with the greatest likelihood of
seeing patchy fog is over KSTS through midmorning. Ceilings and
visibilities lift by late morning and continue through the early
afternoon, yet will generally remain MVFR. Another round of rain
returns to the Bay Area terminals tonight and into Monday
morning with lowering ceilings and visibilities as well.
Vicinity of SFO...MVFR-LIFR through Sunday morning with periodic
light rain. Conditions improve to MVFR by late morning and continue
through the early afternoon as the rain begins to taper off.
Ceilings and visibilities lower and light rain returns to the Bay
Area overnight and into Monday morning.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...MVFR to brief IFR conditions expected with
vicinity showers through this morning. Ceilings lift slightly this
afternoon but are likely to remain MVFR before ceilings and
visibilities lower overnight and into Monday morning.
&&
.MARINE...
(Today through Friday)
Issued at 229 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
Large, building westerly swell continue into Sunday morning with
a temporary decrease in swell later Sunday. Then, a large to very
large westerly swell is expected Monday into Tuesday. Wave
heights will remain elevated through late next week with 15 to 20
foot waves Monday through Wednesday. Expect dangerous conditions
for small crafts through the weekend and into midweek. Elevated
seas will continue to produce enhanced shoaling at harbor
entrances and bars.
&&
.BEACHES...
Issued at 353 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2024
High surf advisory remains in effect through this afternoon for
elevated surf of 20-26 feet, with breakers up to 30 feet. A long
period, westerly swell will continue to create hazardous beach
conditions along the coast into Tuesday. Global wave models are
forecasting a more intense and energetic swell with 20+ feet heights
and swell periods of 20+ seconds, this will lead to much higher
breakers of 30-35 feet, and up to 40 feet at favored spots such as
Mavericks. Localized coastal flooding impacts are also likely,
especially during high tide. As such, a High Surf Warning has been
issued from 4 PM this afternoon through noon Tuesday. These
conditions will result in dangerous and life-threatening bay,
ocean, and beach conditions lingering into next week.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...High Surf Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for CAZ006-505-
509-529-530.
High Surf Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to noon PST Tuesday
for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Tuesday for Mry Bay-Pigeon
Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt
Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt
Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-
10 nm.
&&
$$
UPDATE...Bain
SHORT TERM...Sarment
LONG TERM....Sarment
AVIATION...RGass
MARINE...Behringer
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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Sun Dec 22 10:30:02 PST 2024
From the National Weather Service
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